About Foundation

Foundation is a faith-based mentoring program for young men, grades 4-5 at Oakdale Elementary, headed by Grace Church. Through regular weekly after-school meetings, mentors will help boys discover a holistic pathway to become young men of strong character and integrity, while becoming team players who make positive impacts in their communities and families.

Our team of men will teach practical skills they have learned in their lives and careers, as well as how these skills connect to their faith in Jesus. Our hope is that over time our students would build strong relationships with these men, preparing them for a lifetime of service and learning that benefit others. We will stress a heart for “seeing and meeting others needs” and the value of service to others as core component of being a mature man. These traits will be modeled, taught and rewarded. Please note the actual skills involved aren't central to the overall program. As long as our time together is engaging for students, can be executed at a high level by the volunteers, and results in hands on service projects completed as a team for the benefit of others, we consider it a win.

Our mentors' skills include, but are not limited to:

• Construction
• Electrical
• STEM Related  (surveying, computer programming, circuit design, etc.)
• Business
• Agriculture

The program will also arrange for the students to experience and interact with other organizations in the area that stress similar goals and beliefs.

Program Info

• Monday afternoons (when school is in session) from 2:30-4:45 pm.
• Weekly meetings will take place in the small gym at Oakdale. 
• 4th and 5th grade boys recommended by Oakdale administration are eligible to participate in the program. 
• Consistent participation in the program is required and runs school year to school year.
  • Participants can attend the program for that school year. 4th grade participants will be given priority to return as 5th graders if they are still recommended by Oakdale administration and Foundation's leadership team. 
• All volunteers on the Foundation team have completed Grace Church's child protection training, have been background checked by Grace Church and Unit 5, and completed required training from DCFS. 

Registration

To register for the Foundation mentoring program, click the link below. 

Contact Us

For more information about the program, contact Mike Herrera. 

Mike Herrera
Associate Pastor of Family Ministries
Grace Church of Normal
309-452-5076 | mike@gracenormal.org