NEWS                                                                                        Walnut Valley Unified School District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 880 S. Lemon Avenue

January 6, 2012                                                                       Walnut, CA 91789

 

Contact:       

Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204

Diamond Bar, CA—Ten burly, yet kind and giving Diamond Bar High School football players will soon begin volunteering as tutors, mentors, and buddies with Castle Rock Elementary students.

A new program called Creating Honorable Aspiring Mentors with Purpose (C.H.A.M.P.) is the concept of Head Football Coach Ryan Maine who also happens to be a Castle Rock alumnus from the Class of 1994. 

His football players will begin their new assignment on January 27.  

They will visit the elementary school each week to mentor, tutor, read, and “hang out” with select students.

“I can’t wait to see the smiles on our kids’ faces when they meet and develop friendships with these caring guys,” said Castle Rock Principal Carol Sullivan.

Maine wants his players to be positive role models on and off the football field.

“I believe this will really help develop their character,” he said.

The athlete leaders have volunteered to participate in this new mentoring program will receive training from Castle Rock fifth grade teacher Steve Thayer on January 11.

“To this day, Mr. Thayer was the best teacher I’ve ever had.” Maine said. The DBHS coach said he participated in this kind of program while in college and it led him to pursue a career in education as well as be a positive influence in the lives of younger