U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden Joins Friends of the Children for a Roundtable on National Center of Excellence for Professional Mentoring

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTLAND, ORE. – U. S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined Friends of the Children Founders Duncan and Cindy Campbell, National CEO Terri Sorensen, Friends of the Children-Portland Executive Director Traci Rossi, former City Councilmember and Friends-National Board Member Dan Saltzman, and other leaders and staff for a roundtable discussion on the National Center of Excellence for Professional Mentoring, located in the historic Albina neighborhood of Portland.

The National Center of Excellence was funded, in part, by a Congressionally Directed Spending award of $850,000. Sen. Wyden, along with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), advocated for the funds because the organization’s successful long-term mentoring program, founded in Portland, has grown to 41 locations across the country.

“This federal investment will help ensure that youth who have so much potential but face immense barriers in Oregon and across the nation can benefit from the Friends of the Children mentoring model,” said Sen. Wyden. “The model helps to address some of the most complex social issues. I’m proud to support this nonprofit that began in Portland 30 years ago and has grown to 41 locations nationwide.”

More than a building, the National Center of Excellence will establish Oregon as the destination for evidence-sharing and innovation in professional mentoring for researchers and practitioners nationally and worldwide. It will serve as a hub for training, technical assistance, and resource development to advance the field of professional mentoring and will include a Professional Mentoring Certificate Program.

"Friends of the Children is the only national long-term professional mentoring program in the country. We want to share this model more broadly because we know youth across the country can benefit from the support of a Friend," said Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children’s national office. "This investment not only reflects the critical role professional mentorship plays in supporting youth who are living through some of the hardest things in life, but also underscores Oregon’s leadership in pioneering effective and innovative models of care."

Professional mentors, known as Friends, commit to staying with each child from kindergarten through high school graduation—12+ years, no matter what. Paid, professional mentors are increasingly being recognized for their unique ability to address the educational, social, and health needs of children and families in communities facing the toughest challenges.

Data shows that 92% of youth in the program go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce; 83% earn a high school diploma or GED; 93% remain free from the juvenile justice system; and 98% wait to parent until after their teen years.

Rossi emphasized the importance of the National Center of Excellence for the local community. The Center will deliver critical program supports in collaboration with the Friends-Portland chapter, which will serve as a demonstration site for professional development and hands-on engagement with the professional mentoring practice.

“This Center will be much more than a building. It will be a space of hope, innovation, and opportunity for children and families, not just in Portland but across the nation,” said Rossi. “We are committed to continued investments in the Albina neighborhood and this Center will support the vision for the community.”

Friends of the Children also took Sen. Wyden on a tour of the future site of the Center, a historic building that also serves as the headquarters for the organization’s national office and the founding Portland chapter. Participants also learned about the plans for the state-of-the-art facility which will be dedicated to training professional mentors and supporting youth and families in Portland and nationwide.

The event also honored Friends of the Children’s continued partnerships with schools, local organizations, and businesses to uplift communities through professional mentorship. Stories of impact shared by Friends of the Children-Portland leaders who had also served as Friends demonstrated the opportunity to reach many more children with the support of a consistent, long-term professional mentor.

The Center is expected to open in 2026, providing a national hub for mentorship training and community development. Video photos from the event here.

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About Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit with the mission of impacting generational change by empowering youth who face the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. Our successful model is now in 41 locations around the country. Our work has been featured in The New York Times, Stanford Social Innovation Review and CBS News. Visit friendsofthechildren.org to learn more and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

CONTACT:

Ariane Le Chevallier

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