Diane: November Mentor

For Diane, becoming a mentor was a natural extension of her love for children. In just under a year, she and her mentee, Jerry, have already built a joyful connection—sharing experiences from cooking classes and a birthday celebration at Hershey Park to navigating a corn maze together. “The most rewarding part of mentoring,” Diane says, “is creating a bond with someone I would not have met if it was not for mentoring.”

What stands out most to her are the moments when she arrives to see Jerry’s face light up with excitement—a reminder of the simple power of being present. Diane’s advice to new mentors reflects her thoughtful and positive spirit: “Give your mentee two options of what to do or where to meet—they’ll feel empowered and engaged. Start each meeting with excitement, and end each one by thanking them for sharing their time with you. Positivity breeds positive moments.” 

Outside of mentoring, Diane enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, decorating, painting, and exploring nature. Her caring, creative energy shines through in everything she does—making her a wonderful example of the impact that kindness and consistency can have in a young person’s life.