FULL SERVICE •Mufflers •Brakes *Shocks *Engine Repair "Air Conditioning 'Maintenance "Tune-ups become involved with the sisterhood hosting an annual bowling party. "It is incredibly worthwhile to bring kids together with strong role models . and subtle teachers," says Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Temple Shir. Shalom. He also serves on the Mentor Connection advisory board along with volunteers, professionals, state legisla- tors, judges and parents of kids in the program. "I can think of a number of families who went out their way when they real- ized there has been a missing role model in the lives of their children," he said. "You can see how much it has helped the whole family and made a real differ- ence for the kids." With the Department of Education grant ending in September 2007, JFS is working on "There are so many young people craving for attention, looking for someone to care about them," he says. "By just spending time with a young person, just listening to their ideas even if you agree with them or not, you let them know they are important in this world. I never try to force my opinion on him; I only talk about experiences I've had that could be factors in his choices. I never try to tell him what to do, but let him make choices. "The rewards for the mentor are a hundredfold. You don't even know how it helps you, you just feel good about it," Koenig continues. He easily provides examples of how he has benefited. For instance, Koenig and his wife recently became foster parents for a 13-year-old girl and Raphie helps him with parenting. "He'd laugh at some of the stuff that was going on with me," Koenig says, "but he also helped me make some decisions about things. Here I am 59 years old and I have a 16-year-old helping me decide how to act. It's really good having a friend like that." When Raphie became a bar mitz- vah, he asked Koenig to read Torah. "I had never read Torah and it was a real learning time for me," Koenig says. "It was really a high point for me because not only was Raphie cele- brating something that he was accomplishing, but I was accomplish- ing something, too. We were doing it together." identifying new funding sources needed to continue the program. "We are already planning for the future of Mentor Connection," says Melamis. "We want to be able to con- tinue to meet the need for mentors when the federal grant ends. We anticipate needing both an endow- ment and grants to continue to deliv- er the vital services that have already proven to be a such a success." ❑ BRAKES Starting at $ 6 9 95 per axle ■ plus parts C&r ge ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM? $ 2 9 95 plus refrigerant We Can Help!! $ I 0 "OFF ANY REPAIR • With coupon Only • • 248-851-3883 32661 NORTHWESTERN HWY. FARMINGTON HILLS Interested in being a mentor? Call Katie Holden, program coordina- tor, at (248) 592-2317 or e-mail her at kholden@jfsdetroit.org Also check ww.mentorconnect.org . 0 S001)1 Mutual Respect The admiration and appreciation runs both ways. "It's been important to me," Raphie says of his relationship with Koenig. "He's been a model person for me to wish that I could grow up to be. He's trustworthy, reliable and honest. He exemplifies what a great person should be, and I look up to him. "Sometimes, it's kind of awkward to try to explain it to people who don't grasp the concept of mentoring because it's kind of hard to explain it, but it's really not an issue at all," Raphie says. "I think mentoring is a great idea, and it's really good for kids to have another positive influence. From the mentors I've seen at some of the events we've had, they're all great people. Others should give it a shot." Raphie's mom, Diana Kuper, is very appreciative of Koenig's commit- ment and how it has helped both of them. "I felt he needed a. guy, a man, a father figure in his life," she says of her decision to find a mentor for Raphie. Having adopted Raphie as a single parent, "I just knew he needed some- one to become connected to. It suc- ceeded because of who Jim is; it was a godsend. He was so reliable, exact time, exact date; it established a lot of trust. It's worked out better than any- thing I ever could have expected. I feel like it's one of the blessings and miracles of the whole process of rais- ing Raphie by myself." ❑ • #s*saintOttetit Mile • Wes'. 131 ooimileid, TMtGb1au i 7390 licager[q Road at , •!.A: Mon-Sat 11-3 • Thurs 4:30-10 • Fri & Sat 4:30-11 • Sun 1-10 Benjamin Moore AND • Teknicolor Paints, Inc. A Paint Store and More! Paints Great Products Great Service 2oz. COLOR SAMPLES $ 399 per can Available in 280 Benjamin Moore colors. A great cost effective way to test colors!! - The best way to test color is to put it on your walls! 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