Mentors and mentees in the SMILES (Southcoast Mentoring Initiative for Learning, Education and Service) mentoring program, a program of People, Incorporated (PI), gathered at People, Inc. headquarters on South Main Street on January 29, 2015 to celebrate National Mentoring Month. The program brought together people involved with SMILES, Big Friends Little Friends of the Family Service Association, and Big Brothers Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater New Bedford to share stories, hopes, achievements and pizza. The program also kicked-off the Miles for SMILES 5K Road Race that will be held on March 22, 2015. “We need more adults to be role models for our young people and guide them along the right path", stated Bill Perkins, CEO of People, Incorporated. The event brought more than fifty people together including many mentor-mentee pairs and veteran mentors like Debra Forter who has been mentoring Lessly Trejo for six years. Click here for a 12-minute video of the opening remarks. Click here for photos from last year's event. Click here for the Herald News story. Anyone interested in learning more about SMILES should go to the website or contact contact Pamela O’Neil, Vice-President of Communications and Administration, at 774-627-2404.

(Top row, left) SMILES Program Director Aaron Hubley greets Fall River School Committee member and keynote speaker Gabriel Andrade. (Top row, center) Saint Anne's Hospital Vice-President of Finance Michael Bushell is greeted by SMILES Group Leader Darleen Medeiros and Program Coordinator Donna Giguere. (Top row, right) SMILES Group Leader Julie Cardinali talks with Aaron Hubley while People Incorporated Vice-President of Program Operations Mary-Kate O'Leary talks with mentor Scott Lopes. (Row two, left) Mentor Debra Forter gets some refreshments with her mentee, 12-year-old Lessly Trejo. (Row two, right)  Family Service Association Big Friends Little Friends Director Ramona Turcotte, right, talks about her program as her staff looks on. (Bottom row, left) Mr. Hubley welcomes more guests before People, Incorporated CEO begins the speaking program and introduces Mr. Andrade.