In June 1997, John Andrew Mazie, was killed by a drunken driver at age 26. John felt very strongly about one’s responsibility to give back to the community. He was particularly concerned with the plight of youths who want to focus on education and career but, for reasons beyond their control, face steep odds against success.

Shortly after John’s tragic death, his parents, Barbara and Lowell Mazie, together with their daughter Linda, created the John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, a publically funded, grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping aspiring Framingham and Waltham Massachusetts High School students realize their full potential.

It is through a goal-oriented mentor program that the Foundation honors John’s concern by providing support to young people who, for reasons beyond their control, face tremendous adversity on their path to success. The program helps students set and achieve goals, prepare to apply to college and experience success. In 2010, for example, four students from Framingham High School were accepted into the UMass Medical Center’s Healthcare Career Exploration summer program (which is exciting in and of itself since kids apply from all over MA) and all four were Mazie Mentoring Program students.

The Mazie Foundation is actively seeking mentors.

To qualify as a Mentor, you must:

  • Be a high school graduate, at least 21 years of age and of high moral character.
  • If employed, be in good standing at your place of employment.
  • Submit to a Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Report (CORI)
  • Commit to spend at least 8 hours per month in face-to-face activities with your mentee, for a minimum of 1 year. Mentors are encouraged to stay in relationship with their mentee for the 2 ½ to 3 years that the mentee is in the program. Most do.
  • Commit to making a positive impact on a young teen’s life.

As a Mentor, your responsibilities to your mentee will include:

  • Guiding their personal development
  • Developing their interests
  • Exposing them to culture
  • Providing support for their academic pursuits
  • Assisting them in the college preparation process
  • Introducing them to the world of careers and jobs

And you should:

  • Be creative in planning your activities with them
  • Encourage them to try new things
  • Turn all activities into a learning experience
  • Always model good behavior and responsibility
  • Be your mentee’s friend,-but also their coach, developer, encourager, fellow explorer, and guardian angel!

For information about the Framingham High School Program,contact Lauren Kracoff, Mentoring Program Director 508-620-4963 ext. 27545 Download Framingham Mentor Application

For information about the Waltham High School Program,contact Ethel Williams, Mentoring Program Director,781-314-5526 Download Waltham Mentor Application

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