Our mission is to elevate the assets and potential in children through mentoring.

Our purpose is to create relational safety through mentorship. We want every young person to have a caring adult who consistently shows up, listens, and believes in them.

“Be A Mentor matches local students with caring adults who meet with them for one hour each week during the school year. We currently serve 21 schools across the Lowcountry.”

oung people need consistent relationships with adults who listen, encourage them, and help them recognize their strengths. Mentoring can support confidence, communication, school engagement, healthy decision-making, and future goals.

BAM serves hundreds of students, mentors, and families each year through 21 partner schools, an after-school mentoring location, group programs, family engagement, and career-readiness opportunities.

Mentors typically meet with their student for approximately one hour each week during the school year. That includes drive time because we try to place mentors at a school most convenient for them.

Most mentors meet with their mentees at school during lunch, recess, or another approved time. BAM also offers an after-school mentoring opportunity on Daniel Island.

Mentors talk, listen, play games, complete activities, help students identify their strengths, and encourage their goals. At some after-school locations, mentors may also help with homework. We are starting a career curriculum for high school students for pairs that opt into it.

Mentors may help with schoolwork when appropriate, but tutoring is not the primary focus. The most important part of mentoring is building a safe, consistent, and supportive relationship.

BAM does not require mentors to follow a script. We want relationships to develop naturally. BAM provides training, conversation starters, activity ideas, toolkits, and ongoing support.

No. Mentors do not need to be teachers or counselors. They need to be caring, dependable adults who are willing to listen, encourage, and consistently show up.

No. Mentors are supportive adults, but they are not expected to act as counselors or therapists. BAM trains mentors on appropriate boundaries and how to contact staff when a student needs additional support.

Mentors must be at least 21 years old, complete BAM’s application and orientation, and successfully pass the required screening and background check.

Mentors are asked to commit for at least one school year. We encourage mentors to continue with their mentees in future years whenever possible because long-term consistency can strengthen the relationship.

Occasional conflicts happen. Mentors should communicate with the school coordinator or BAM staff as early as possible. Consistency is important, so mentors should avoid frequent cancellations.

BAM considers the mentor’s location, schedule, interests, preferences, and school availability, as well as the student’s age, personality, interests, and needs. The school counseling team recommends the students for the progam and retrieves parent permission.

The timeline varies based on training, screening, school schedules, mentor availability, and the students currently waiting. BAM works to create a strong match rather than placing mentors solely based on speed. After the volunteer process is complete we ask schools to take no more than 2-3 weeks to make the right match.

Yes, each year.

• Mentor orientation and training

• School-based coordinator support

• Ongoing assistance from BAM staff

• Activities and conversation ideas

• Mentor toolkits and resources

• Lunch-and-learns and additional training opportunities

• Mentor appreciation and community-building events

Yes. BAM welcomes businesses, civic groups, faith communities, college groups, and other organizations. Each individual mentor must complete BAM’s application, training, screening, and background-check requirements.

BAM currently partners with 21 elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Lowcountry. BAM also offers an after-school mentoring opportunity on Daniel Island.

• Camp Road Middle School

• Murray-LaSaine Montessori School

• Haut Gap Middle School on Johns Island

• C.E. Williams Middle School—South Campus

• St. Andrews School of Math and Science

• Stono Park Elementary School

• Cainhoy Elementary School

The Daniel Island after-school location is also convenient for many mentors who live or work in Berkeley County.

Yes. BAM offers mentoring through the Seven Farms after-school program on Daniel Island. Mentors build relationships with students and may also assist with homework. An onsite coordinator is available to provide support.

• Charleston Charter School for Math and Science

• Early College High School

• Julian Mitchell Elementary School (May switch to memminger since schools moved!)

• Meeting Street Academy

• Sanders-Clyde Elementary/Middle School

• Chicora Elementary School

• Meeting Street Elementary and Middle at Brentwood

• Chicora Elementary School

• Compass Elementary

• Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies

• Meeting Street Elementary and Middle at Brentwood

• Meeting Street Elementary at Burns

• Pepperhill Elementary School

• Lucy Beckham High School

• Moultrie Middle School

Mentors may share their preferred location, age group, and schedule. BAM staff will help identify the best available opportunity based on current student needs and school schedules.

1. C.E. Williams Middle School—South Campus

2. Cainhoy Elementary School

3. Camp Road Middle School

4. Charleston Charter School for Math and Science

5. Chicora Elementary School

6. Compass Elementary

7. Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies

8. Early College High School

9. Haut Gap Middle School

10. Julian Mitchell Elementary School

11. Lucy Beckham High School

12. Meeting Street Academy

13. Meeting Street Elementary and Middle at Brentwood

14. Meeting Street Elementary at Burns

15. Moultrie Middle School

16. Murray-LaSaine Montessori School

17. Oakbrook Elementary School

18. Pepperhill Elementary School

19. Sanders-Clyde Elementary/Middle School

20. St. Andrews School of Math and Science

21. Stono Park Elementary School

Additional Program Location This list will change from year to year depending on school buy in.

• Seven Farms after-school program on Daniel Island

BAM serves students from elementary through high school. Although many partner schools serve communities experiencing economic barriers, BAM mentoring is based on a student’s need for and interest in a supportive adult relationship. WE ALWAYS USE ASSET BASED LANGUAGE

Students are generally referred through a BAM partner school. Parents may contact their child’s school or BAM to ask whether mentoring is available.

Yes. A parent or legal guardian must provide permission before a student can participate.

Most students meet with their mentors once a week during the school year.

BAM staff will listen to the concerns and determine the best next step. This may include additional support, adjusting expectations, closing the match, or rematching the student when appropriate.

Yes. BAM’s Parent Village initiative creates opportunities for parents and caregivers to build relationships, share resources, strengthen their support systems, and participate in family-focused activities.

No. One-to-one school-based mentoring is our largest program, but BAM also provides group mentoring, family engagement, youth enrichment, and career-readiness opportunities.

Leading Ladies is a group mentoring and leadership-development program for high school girls. Participants explore leadership, life skills, career preparation, community involvement, healthy relationships, and future goals.

Parent Village brings parents and caregivers together to build connections, share resources, strengthen their support systems, and participate in activities that benefit their families.

Yes. BAM is developing a structured career-mentorship curriculum for high school students. Topics include career pathways, course planning, interviews, internships, workplace expectations, social skills, and community involvement.

BAM’s primary mentoring model follows the school year, but we also work with community partners to provide summer engagement and enrichment opportunities when available.

• Recruit employees to become mentors

• Sponsor a school or program

• Host a career-exploration experience

• Provide guest speakers

• Donate supplies or professional services

• Sponsor a BAM event

• Organize a volunteer project

• Make a financial contribution

• Recruit employees to become mentors

• Sponsor a school or program

• Host a career-exploration experience

• Provide guest speakers

• Donate supplies or professional services

• Sponsor a BAM event

• Organize a volunteer project

• Make a financial contribution

Yes. People can support BAM by serving as guest speakers, hosting workplace tours, assisting with special events, assembling program materials, donating supplies, sponsoring activities, or introducing BAM to potential partners.

Yes. BAM representatives are available to speak about the need for mentors, BAM’s programs, partnership opportunities, and ways to support local youth.

• Recruit, screen, and train mentors

• Coordinate and support mentoring relationships

• Provide activities and mentor resources

• Operate programs for students and families

• Offer youth enrichment and career opportunities

• Maintain school and community partnerships

• Respond when students, mentors, or families need additional support

• BAM’s fundraising goal is approximately $1,200 per mentoring match each year. This helps cover recruitment, background checks, training, staff coordination, school support, activities, technology, and ongoing match monitoring.

• Yes. Businesses and individuals may sponsor a school, youth program, family initiative, special event, or area of greatest need. BAM staff can develop an opportunity that aligns with the donor’s interests and the organization’s current priorities.

• Yes, when the donation meets a current need. BAM may accept program supplies, student experiences, event items, professional services, food, gift cards, or other resources. Donors should contact BAM before purchasing or delivering items.

• Board members can:

  • Introduce BAM to prospective mentors and donors

  • Invite BAM to speak to businesses and community groups

  • Share mentor-recruitment opportunities

  • Connect BAM with potential sponsors

  • Attend and promote BAM events

  • Help secure auction items and in-kind donations

  • Share BAM’s impact stories and materials

  • Personally thank mentors, donors, and community partners

It is always fine to say:

“That is a great question. I want to make sure I give you the correct information, so I’m going to connect you with a member of the BAM team.”

Direct prospective mentors, donors, families, and community partners to BAM’s website or connect them directly with BAM staff.

Website: www.beamentornow.org
Email: ecruse@beamentornow.org

School partnerships, program schedules, and mentor availability may change throughout the year. Board members should confirm time-sensitive details with BAM staff.

Can I refer a student to the program?

Yes. BAM typically serves students through our partner schools. However, we are willing to discuss referrals outside those schools on a case-by-case basis to determine whether we can make the match possible. Placement depends on several factors, including the student’s location, mentor availability, parent or guardian permission, staff capacity, and whether an appropriate meeting location and support plan can be established. Contact BAM to discuss the student’s individual situation.

BAM is open to expanding into additional schools when we have the capacity to provide a high-quality, sustainable program. Before adding a school, we consider the number of students who need mentors, the school’s ability to provide an onsite coordinator, mentor availability, funding, and BAM’s staffing capacity. Our first priority is ensuring that our current schools and mentoring relationships receive strong, consistent support. Schools interested in partnering with BAM are encouraged to contact our team.

Are there ways to get involved with BAM outside of weekly mentoring?

Yes! Although weekly mentoring is at the heart of BAM, there are many other ways individuals, families, businesses, and community groups can help. Opportunities may include:

• Serving as a guest speaker or leading a workshop

• Hosting students for a career tour or educational experience

• Supporting a special event or youth activity

• Helping prepare, pack, or deliver mentor activity materials

• Volunteering at mentor-recruitment or community events

• Joining the BAM Flight Crew to help spread the word and recruit mentors

• Providing a meal, snacks, supplies, transportation, or professional services

• Sponsoring a student experience, school, program, or event

• Donating an auction item or helping with fundraising

• Connecting BAM with prospective mentors, donors, or community partners

• Making a one-time or recurring financial gift

Opportunities vary throughout the year. Contact BAM and tell us about your interests, skills, availability, or resources, and we will explore the best way for you to become part of our village.