Spring 2019 Hello MEGA Mentors and Supporters! We hope you are having a wonderful 2019 and are in good health and spirits. Here's what's been happening with MEGA since the November 2018 newsletter. | MEGA Celebrates 10 Years of Service and Excellence MEGA is proud to celebrate 10 years of service and dedication to underrepresented Chesterfield County Public School students. We will continue highlighting this milestone throughout the year at our events and student field trips. | RSVP for 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration The 2019 Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration is scheduled for Thursday, May 30. MEGA members are invited to attend and help celebrate 10 Years of Service and Excellence. Please visit the MEGA Mentors homepage to register for the event by May 23. | Ecoff Elementary Program Starts up After months of planning, MEGA opened its first "Reading to Build Character" elementary school program on March 7 for 4th and 5th graders at Ecoff Elementary School. The Ecoff program is a collaboration between MEGA, Second Baptist Church of Chester, Cornerstone Church of Chester and the Chester Village Garden Homeowners Association. "The program is designed to teach reading and social skills through reading and discussing books," said Howard Corey, MEGA's vice president of programming. "We teach the kids the value of an education by incorporating MEGA's core values of respect, responsibility, effort and achievement." The reading program was designed by Julie Cheatham, an Ecoff reading specialist, Bobbie Anderson and Dena Reams, who both hold PhD's and are MEGA members. Anderson serves as liaison at Ecoff and Reams is responsible for planning the next project. Corey, who is responsible for MEGA's recruiting efforts at Ecoff, said 15 of the 15 intended mentor slots have already been filled. "MEGA thanks Ecoff Principal Kristin Tait and her staff for their help and cooperation," said Corey. "They've been instrumental in making this program a success." |  MEGA Mentors members and Ecoff Elementary students kick off MEGA's program at the school Mar. 7, 2019. Courtesy photo. | | Nominations Underway for 2019 If you know anyone who would make a great MEGA Mentors Board of Directors general member, please ask them to submit their letters of interest, resumes, bios or other written material no later than April 30 via email to: Derrick Thomas
Nomination Committee Chairman
Email: legal@megamentors.org Also, if you or someone you know is interested in becoming a MEGA Mentors Board of Directors Officer, please submit the letters of interest, resume, bio or other written material no later than May 31 via email to: Derrick Thomas
Nomination Committee Chairman
Email: legal@megamentors.org The current officer positions are: President, Vice President of Administration, Vice President of Programming, Secretary, Treasurer and Legal Advisor. If you have any questions or comments regarding nomination of general members or officers, please contact Derrick Thomas at (804) 338-1621 or the email listed above. | Upcoming Orientation and Training The next New Mentor Orientation and Training is Thursday, April 18 from 6 p.m. - 7:30p.m. at Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries. Please join us if you're new to MEGA or would like a refresher! Click on the RSVP button below to register and get additional information. Please RSVP by Monday, April 15. | Volunteers Needed for School Merit Trips MEGA needs volunteers to chaperone the annual merit school trips. ▪ The high school students will visit University of Richmond and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond April 10.
▪ The middle school students will visit J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Monticello April 15.
| ▪ | The high school students will visit University of Richmond and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond April 10. | | ▪ | The middle school students will visit J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Monticello April 15. | If you'd like to help, please fill out the sign-up form by April 8. | CEF, MEGA Host Wine Tasting Fundraiser Please join the Chesterfield Education Foundation and MEGA Mentors Thursday, May 16 at Uptown Alley for a night of fun and wine tasting. The proceeds will help both organizations fund their programs this year. Tickets are $20 before May 16 and $25 at the door. Go to CEF's website to purchase tickets. |  The 2019 FABS featured a special edition hand-embellished, signed print copy of the MEGA Mentors 10th Anniversary Commemorative Painting by Rene Dickerson. Photo by Trevon Facey. | FABS 2019 Exceeds Expectations The 2019 Fine Art Benefit & Sale, which occurred on Friday, January 18, was MEGA's most successful event to date both in attendance and contributions. Almost 360 supporters attended the event, also known as FABS, and helped MEGA celebrate 10 Years of Excellence and Service. Veterans and new supporters attended FABS in full force and expressed their gratitude of having a program in Chesterfield County geared toward ensuring our students' future success. "A first time FABS attendee and her guests stopped by and said they thoroughly enjoyed themselves Friday night and that they'd definitely be back next year," said Mack Moore, MEGA's treasurer. Founding members were honored during the event and presented with individual plaques. "It was a great honor to have our founding members come out and address the crowd," said Greg Cummings, MEGA's current president. "It's sometimes hard to believe MEGA's been making a difference in Chesterfield County schools for 10 years now, and it's all thanks to the founders' vision and our Mentors who put in the hard work every day." Go to MEGA's website gallery page to view photos of this event and more. |  Attendees at the 2019 FABS mingle and view fine art and silent auction items on display at the Jan. 18 event. Photo by Trevon Facey. |  MEGA Mentors founding members address the audience at the 2019 FABS held Jan. 18. Photo by Trevon Facey. | | |  The Virginia State University mascot poses for a picture during the Freedome Classic Festival basketball game Jan. 19, 2019. Courtesy photo. | MEGA Students Attend Freedom Classic MEGA Mentors students from Carver, Falling Creek, Manchester and Providence Middle Schools packed Chesterfield County Public School buses January 19 on their way to the Freedom Classic Festival at the Virginia State University Multi-Purpose Center. The students in the MEGA program were being rewarded for excelling in their academics and demonstrating appropriate behaviors at their respective schools. A total of 21 Mentors and 158 students and guests attended the activities-packed weekend at VSU. Over 1,000 students and parents have attended this event over the past five years. Mack Moore, MEGA's treasurer, said students from Manchester Middle and Falling Creek voiced positive sentiments about the Saturday night main basketball event. "Signature events don't just happen; they are a direct reflection of the planning, execution, creativity and attention to detail exhibited by all of you and your colleagues," one student told Moore. "Thanks again to Johnson Marketing, the MEGA leadership team and all of the sponsors. You are truly difference makers!" |  MEGA Mentors students and MEGA's president, Greg Cummings, attend activities at the Freedom Classic Festival Jan. 19, 2019. Courtesy photo. | | MEGA Recruiting Efforts Continue MEGA Mentors' Recruiting Committee is dedicated to providing classroom mentors at the eight schools it services. MEGA is extremely grateful to our local churches and other organizations for their support toward this effort. If you are aware of any local organizations, such as businesses or churches, who are willing to help mentor Chesterfield County students, please have them contact MEGA Mentors at: info@megamentors.org. | MEGA Needs Committee Members! MEGA is also actively seeking volunteers for its committees: 1. Communication & Technology (website, social media, internal and external communication, FABS tech support)
2. Events (FABS, field trips, recognition event, etc.)
3. Finance
4. Fundraising & Development
5. Membership & Training
6. Programs & Curriculum
7. Recruiting
| 1. | Communication & Technology (website, social media, internal and external communication, FABS tech support) | | 2. | Events (FABS, field trips, recognition event, etc.) | | 4. | Fundraising & Development | If you're interested in joining and aren't already a member, please fill out a membership application online at www.MEGAMentors.org. If you're already a member, please contact us at membership@megamentors.org. | News from CEF Here are some highlights from a recent Chesterfield Education Foundation newsletter. Three Highs... ▪ Received a $20,000 grant from Dupont for classroom innovation.
▪ An online gift came in from our new monthly newsletter, The Foundation Front Page.
▪ Village Bank has committed to $20,000 for Chesterfield S.T.A.R.
| ▪ | Received a $20,000 grant from Dupont for classroom innovation. | | ▪ | An online gift came in from our new monthly newsletter, The Foundation Front Page. | | ▪ | Village Bank has committed to $20,000 for Chesterfield S.T.A.R. | Interesting Conversations... ▪ Tyren & Tammy met with Danielle Fitz-Hugh of the Chesterfield Chamber. As a result, CEF has re-joined the Chamber.
▪ Tyren met with Courtney from Amazon and as a result, CCPS is looking to see how every 8th-grade student can tour the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Chester.
▪ Tyren & Tammy met with Debra Marlow, the founder of CEF and learned a little more about the Foundation's history. Debra has agreed to serve on a 30th Anniversary Committee.
| ▪ | Tyren & Tammy met with Danielle Fitz-Hugh of the Chesterfield Chamber. As a result, CEF has re-joined the Chamber. | | ▪ | Tyren met with Courtney from Amazon and as a result, CCPS is looking to see how every 8th-grade student can tour the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Chester. | | ▪ | Tyren & Tammy met with Debra Marlow, the founder of CEF and learned a little more about the Foundation's history. Debra has agreed to serve on a 30th Anniversary Committee. | | Upcoming Events 2018-2019 ▪ April 10: Annual Field Trip for High School Students
▪ April 15: Annual Field Trip for Middle School Students
▪ April 18: New Mentor Orientation and Training
▪ May 16: CEF & MEGA Mentors Wine Tasting Fundraiser
▪ May 30: 9th Annual Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration
| ▪ | April 10: Annual Field Trip for High School Students | | ▪ | April 15: Annual Field Trip for Middle School Students | | ▪ | April 18: New Mentor Orientation and Training | | ▪ | May 16: CEF & MEGA Mentors Wine Tasting Fundraiser | | ▪ | May 30: 9th Annual Excellence Awards and Recognition Celebration | Visit MEGA Mentors' website event calendar for more events and updates. | |
