James Smith Receives Mentors Care’s Annual Carl Smith Award
Pictured from right to left: Brian Blackwell - Mentors Care Managing Director, Dena Petty - Mentors Care Founder and Executive Director, Kelsie Irion - PHS Mentors Care Coordinator, Maddox Smith - son of James, James Smith, Helen Smith - wife of James, Anne Margarette Smith - Mentors Care Board Member, Judy Walling - Mentors Care Board Member, and Karen Childers - Mentors Care Board Member.
The Carl Smith Award is awarded to a mentor that is the greatest advocate for Mentors Care in their community and shows that being a mentor is their love and passion.
[Palmer, TX, May 13, 2024]. Mentor’s Care, a non-profit organization that connects struggling high school students with adult mentors, announced today that James Smith was named the recipient of the Carl Smith Award. Out of over 700 mentors across North Texas in the organization, one mentor is chosen each year by Mentors Care’s board of directors, as their Mentor of the Year. This award was named after Carl Smith, a beloved Mentors Care board member. His entire life was in service to others, especially the kids. He was an educator and school board member for years. He believed in encouraging and supporting students to help them find their futures. His legacy lives on after his passing in recognizing our outstanding mentor award for all the things he exemplified, especially encouragement, always showing up and without judgement.
James has been a mentor for Mentors Care for six years, mentoring six different students, successfully recruiting three mentors and providing snack support for the program.
“James enters the building every week with a smile on his face and a dad joke in his pocket! Brother James has made it a mission in the last few months to encourage his church members to become more involved in their community and join Mentors Care in making a difference in the lives of our children,” said Mentors Care Coordinator (Palmer High School), Kelsie Irion.
“Mentoring is taking time to invest in the life of a student weekly,” said James Smith.
“The Carl Smith Award is an honor every year to give a mentor that continues Carl's Heart for Kids. Our guidelines is a person of integrity, strength, and humility, creating a safe and non-judging atmosphere one student at a time. Truly focusing on the needs of the student by having a listening ear, dedication, compassion, and gently guiding them with wisdom. I'm excited that James Smith was chosen for this award! James has the heart to encourage, stay the course, and show the love that EVERY CHILD NEEDS to finish their path,” said Ann Margaret Smith (Board Member and widow of Carl Smith) “Thank you, James. Job well done!”
“Every year we have the difficult duty and honor to choose the mentor of the year. We are very proud to announce James Smith as our winner. He exemplifies all of the qualities in the Carl Smith Outstanding Mentor Award,” said Dena Petty, founder of Mentors Care.
Mentor’s Care is a non-profit organization founded by Dena Petty in 2009. Everything in this program is based on what Petty wished she had as a kid growing up in a very dysfunctional environment. The goal of Mentors Care is to give students what they need, not only to graduate but to live their lives to their fullest potential.
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Media Contact:
Mentors Care
Susan Baker
Communications & Events Coordinator
972-670-3832