Honoring a Legacy of Hope: Monsignor Cleves
At this year’s Seeds of Hope celebration, we are proud to honor Monsignor William (Bill) Cleves—a visionary leader, educator, and unwavering advocate for young people.
Monsignor Cleves has dedicated his life to empowering others through education, mentorship, and faith. During his tenure as president of Thomas More University, he championed growth, strengthened community connections, and remained deeply committed to the success of every student who walked through its doors.
His legacy reflects the very heart of Seeds of Hope: creating opportunity, fostering connection, and believing in the potential of every young person—especially those who need it most.
Join us as we celebrate Monsignor Cleves’ incredible impact and continue the mission of planting seeds that grow into brighter futures.
Buy your ticket today!
https://mentoringplus.org/events/
On July 18, 2025, Mentoring Plus welcomed more than 120 golfers to AJ Jolly Golf Course for our annual Golf Outing — and what a day it was! Thanks to the incredible support of our players, sponsors, and volunteers, we met our fundraising goal of $20,000 to help provide life-changing mentoring and support for local youth.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this event possible — from our generous sponsors, to the golfers who joined us on the course, to the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your dedication and generosity ensure that we can continue empowering young people in our community to reach their full potential.
We can’t wait to see you again next year!
At first glance, it was just a beautiful day on the course — sunshine, good swings, and great company. But our recent Mentoring Plus Annual Golf Outing was more than just a fundraiser. It was a reminder of why we show up, week after week, for the youth in our community.
This year, the outing wasn’t just about birdies and bogeys. It was about breaking cycles, building resilience, and making space for something deeper — connection.
Teaching More Than Life Skills — Teaching Life
At Mentoring Plus, we go beyond mentoring. Our shift to focus on mental health and emotional coping skills gives at-risk youth tools many have never been given — tools to handle anger, trauma, anxiety, and stress in real time. We talk about hard things. We normalize the conversations that many kids grow up told to bury.
Because for our teens, emotional wellness isn’t optional — it’s survival.
And when we say they’re learning how to care for themselves, it turns out… they’re also learning how to care for others.
A Reward Point, A Radical Choice
In our program, youth earn reward points for showing up, setting goals, and growing. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, or items they want. It’s a small way to build motivation, celebrate progress, and give them a sense of control.
But this month, one young man did something different.
Instead of using his hard-earned points for himself, he informed us he is going to save up his points and use them for his friend- a fellow youth fighting cancer. No cameras. No push. Just pure heart.
He didn’t hesitate. Because he’s been learning that strength doesn’t always look like silence — sometimes, it looks like showing up for someone else when you know what pain feels like.
More Than a Moment — A Movement
This is what your support helps make possible.
The golf outing raised essential funds, yes — but more than that, it raised awareness. It brought our community into the mission. Every swing, every sponsor, every smile helps us continue offering something too many young people go without: a safe place, a trusted adult, and the belief that healing is possible.
From the Course to the Core
To everyone who came out, donated, or simply believed in the work — thank you. You’re part of this story now. And if one young man can choose generosity over gain in the middle of his own struggle, imagine what’s possible when we all do the same.
Because this isn’t just about mentoring.
It’s about redefining what it means to be strong.
We’re excited to announce that Mentoring Plus has moved to 840 Washington Avenue in Newport, Kentucky! This new space allows us to better serve our youth, mentors, and community by providing the resources and environment we need to make an even bigger impact.
Our facility now includes a gymnasium for recreational activities and team-building, classrooms for focused learning and workshops, and hangout spaces where youth can unwind and connect, an Art room for creative activities and relaxation, helping our young people feel at home, and finally a state of the art kitchen and dining area.
This move aligns with our mission of empowering youth through mentoring, education, and community support. It’s a place where we can expand our programs, welcome more volunteers, and build meaningful connections.
We invite you to visit us at our open house on November 22. Come explore the new Mentoring Plus and see firsthand how this space is transforming lives. Thank you to our community for making this possible—let’s continue building a brighter future together at our new home.
It is with great sadness we announce that long-time volunteer and program director, Robin Anderson, has moved on from Mentoring Plus. After working with this organization for nearly ten years, Robin is pursuing other interests.
What started as a volunteer gig to work with local youth, quickly turned into a passion and eventually a career. Her experience as an educator gave her the background to connect with the teens, guide them through our curriculum, and steer the program to ever-greater heights.
Robin is the kind of person that will go to the state capital to meet with legislators, fighting for not-for-profits like M+. Then she’ll come back to Newport, and disinfect the entire building to make sure it’s safe for our students. She’ll help to plan and organize a fundraiser. Then she’ll be the first one to show up at that event and the last one to leave. M+ has been more than just a job for her, it’s been a passion. You can see that, not just because of the love she’s shown us, but because of the love and connection that the kids have with her. She’s sometimes been the last and only person that our kids will trust. And she has stepped up to be the person they needed every time.
Kevin Kennedy, the founder of M+ and the person who hired Robin, has this to say:
“Robin came to M+ in the early years as a very enthusiastic volunteer. Her exceptional talents were soon recognized and she was offered a staff position. Robin demonstrated a passion for the M+ mission and the teens she served. Her fiery commitment to the less fortunate was unwavering. As Robin continued to grow and thrive in her work, it was obvious to everyone she was a leader and hence became our first program director. As program director she exceeded all expectations and was responsible for much of the agency’s progress. In looking back over the years, I clearly saw God’s hand in our work, and Robin was a wonderful example of His Grace impacting the lives of our kids. I extend to Robin a heartfelt thanks and a deep sense of gratitude for her many years of hard work, passion & commitment & wish her God’s Peace as she walks her path.”
Thank you, Robin. We’ve been so blessed to have you!
Class of 2020, we salute you!
The world is facing a crisis that will be written about in history books. Our lives have been disrupted, and a cloud of uncertainty looms over us all. While we are all in this together, I couldn’t help but think about my students at Mentoring Plus in Newport Kentucky, I miss them.
To the senior class of 2020, we want you to know we applaud you all for your hard work. Even in such unprecedented times, we are proud to announce that three M+ youth will be graduating from high school this year. It warms our hearts that we’ve have been able to work with these three youth, and track their growth over the years while they were successful in overcoming some big challenges. We enjoy the process of seeing students learn, mature, and blossom and reach this point of success.
Caitlin Thomes
Caitlin has been participating and working with Mentoring Plus for more than 2 years. Caitlin has diligently worked aside mentoring plus staff, case manager (Lisa E.), life coach (Barb), as well as with her grandparents to assist her in overcoming extreme barriers, develop skills and work toward independency of getting and keeping a job, and applying and moving into her first apartment. This youth has come a long way and continues to set new goals for herself. After much hard work, long hours of studying, doing homework and maintaining passing grades Caitlin will receive her high school diploma from Holy Cross Highschool this year, being part of the 2020 graduating class. Through hard work beside her case manager (Lisa E.), life coach (Barb) and the support of her grandparents, this youth has overcome obstacles. Caitlin is a youth who was successful starting with the tradition program at mentoring plus while making and reaching goals, getting a job, and earning passing grades to transitioning into our young adult program and learning how to get and maintain an apartment, budgeting and continuing in higher education plans. Best of luck to you Caitlin, we are proud of you, and hope you continue in all your success. As part of the 2020 class, your class will not only make history, but you will go down in Mentoring Plus history as someone who despite barriers and challenges have been able to rise to the top and continue in a journey of success. CONGRATULATIONS!
Damion Jones
Damion, better known as DJ, has been attending Mentoring Plus programming for 2 ½ years, and has overcome many challenges. DJ and his mother have expressed how being part of the Mentoring Plus program has provided DJ with encouragement and has lifted him up from being in low emotions states at times. His mother states that DJ has received the supports he needed, to help him blossom over the years. DJ will receive his high school diploma from Ryle High School for 2020. He is a bright young man who looks to have a promising future in front of him with hopes and ambitions to learn and work within the plumbing industry. Along with working with staff and his mentor (Nick) DJ has defiantly shown dedication, hard work and much resilience throughout his high school years. He was able to maintain and keep a job for over a year, while maintaining grades, continuing to engage in program at Mentoring Plus and developing a close friendship with his life coach. Through his senior year, DJ has worked toward this goal and several other goals both he and his case manager have set, through dedication, hard work and working closely with his mother (Kristy), case manager (Lisa E.), his life coach (Nick), and his school. He has been able to ride along with people whom currently work within the plumbing industry and has been able to ask questions directly to people working in this field to get some of the best answers and real-life experiences. DJ is excited about learning more about the industry and was set to continue on his ride along when the COVID 19 swept up all by surprise. While preparing to finish his high school career successfully DJ has continued to demonstrate hard work in maintaining his grades, and getting work completed for school. DJ has not allowed for challenges and barriers in front of him due to COVID 19 to stop him from achieving his goals. Best of luck to you DJ, we are proud of you, and hope you continue in all your success. As part of the 2020 class, your class will not only make history, but you will go down in Mentoring Plus history as being known to be a friend to all, demonstrating kindness towards others, demonstrating a kind and good heart, as well as someone who looks for the positive in others, all while facing your journey that lies ahead. CONGRATULATIONS!
Miranda Baldwin
Miranda Baldwin graduated from Highlands High School on May 23, 2020. She has applied to Gateway College and is preparing for her entrance testing. She would like to study nursing.
The 2020 Seeds of Hope Gala was going to be a grand event. The fundraiser, originally scheduled for March 20th, would be celebrating its tenth anniversary. This year also marks the 225th anniversary of the founding of Newport, KY. Mentoring Plus, headquartered in Newport, was hosting the event in Newport’s legendary Syndicate, and was honoring one of Newport’s most popular citizens, city manager, Tom Fromme. Registrations were beginning to pour in. The stage was set for a spectacular night of fundraising and celebration.
Then the COVID-19 virus struck.
What does a non-profit do when its largest annual fundraiser gets shut down?
That question is just the tip of the iceberg. It opens a pandora’s box of follow-up questions for us about how our program will operate on a restricted budget, or what new fundraising efforts can be made to replace the event, and how can the star of the show, in this case Tom Fromme, still be honored and celebrated? Not all of these questions can be answered quickly, as circumstances are constantly changing. But Mentoring Plus is moving forward as much as possible.
Above all else, M+ is focused on the kids and families that we serve. We’ve adapted our programming and outreach to accommodate the new environment. But without funding, the program can only survive so long. Finding a substantial replacement for the Seeds Gala became the next major priority.
First, #GivingTuesday jumped up in the calendar. Upon seeing so many organizations with an urgent need for funds, the annual day of giving was moved from Thanksgiving up to this coming Tuesday! May 5th is #GivingTuesdayNow, and should act as a catalyst for many contributors around the world.
Similarly, Kentucky’s annual day of giving has seen a record engagement in the wake of the health crisis. Kentucky’s countdown will also begin on May 5th, with #KYGives culminating on May 12th.
In the meantime, Mentoring Plus leaders spent the end of April reaching out to past major donors, raising nearly $20,000 as of this writing. Additionally, some M+ supporters hosted online fundraisers that brought in several hundred dollars for the organization.
Finally, as we head into May, we are seeking to pull all of this positive momentum together into one focused effort. We launched a major campaign on GoFundMe, the world’s largest and most trusted fundraising platform. The goal is to raise an additional $35,000 by the end of May. We are hopeful that this campaign will be promoted far and wide by all of our supporters, gaining contributions from a large number of people. $5 here, $20 there, and maybe a few $500 donations sprinkled in…
So what about the Seeds of Hope? As of this writing, the timeline of returning to normalcy is still uncertain. We have tentatively postponed the event until June 26th, and hope we can pull together an event worthy of our guest of honor, Tom Fromme. Anyone who purchased tickets or contributed as a sponsor will have the opportunity to attend the rescheduled event, as all purchases will transfer to the new date. Given the circumstances, we anticipate a smaller, more intimate event. With all of the fundraising activities we’ve got lined up, we’ll be able to place a greater focus on celebrating Mr. Fromme and M+ youth rather than fundraising.
The fundraising efforts start now. With your help, we’re confident that M+ will reach its $35,000 goal, power through the summer, and survive to the next fundraiser in September. Please donate today.