FAQs

  • A. Wake Up Mentoring is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. text goes here

  • A. Yes! Checks may be made out to Wake Up Mentoring and mailed to:

    Wake Up Mentoring

    823 West Central Blvd

    Orlando, FL 32805

  • A. Wake Up Mentoring (WUM) was established in2007 and is a public charity/501(c)3 organization emerging as a lead youth mentoring and resource center for at-risk youth in Orlando, Florida. Wake Up Mentoring’s (WUM) mission is to help socially and economically at-risk youth become tomorrow’s leaders through education and mentoring services. WUM services at-risk youth ages 6 to24andthoseinthe Orange County Juvenile Justice System. Our goal is to provide coordinated, comprehensive wrap-around services that offer prevention and intervention services and promote higher education for at-risk youth.

  • A. Wake Up Mentoring (WUM) provides individual and group mentoring to participants ages 10-24. The group mentoring focuses on social-emotional learning and situational awareness. At the same time, the individual mentoring focuses on personal development. Related topics are self-respect; correcting defiant behaviors (disrespecting others, negative attitudes, anger, and violence); appearance/personal hygiene; making the proper choices/consequences; participant goal setting; community service; the importance of education; career opportunities; effective communications and relationship building; exercising good social skills; drug and alcohol use/abuse. WUM provides high-quality programming in four key areas: 1) academic support, 2) health & wellness,3) social development, and 4) crisis intervention to ensure students are equipped and able toachieve their dreams

  • A. Many of our mentees start with us with no positive leaders or role models in their lives. They have a hard time trusting adults and even making eye contact and having conversations can be a challenge. As trusted relationships within WUM grow, the change in the mentees is noticeable by all. Giving the mentees a safe space and options that they didn’t even know existed changes their outlook and perspective. Social skills, eye contact, level of respect and politeness all improve immensely.

  • A. Studies have projected that one-third of the Black boys born in 2001 will spend time in prison if current trends hold. The estimated cost to incarcerate a youth for one year is $88,000 plus versus mentoring a youth for one year for $2,000 (Justice Policy Institute, 2020 and Public and Private Ventures, 2014).An article published on April 7, 2023, by an Orlando Sentinel reporter states, “In the span of a little over a month, Central Florida has been left reeling by several gruesome gun deaths, many of them young children. The shootings also have medical leaders pleading for gun violence to be treated like a nonpartisan public health crisis rather than a political issue.” Studies have projected that one-third of the Black boys born in 2001 will spend time in prison if current trends hold. The estimated cost to incarcerate a youth for one year is $88,000 plus versus mentoring a youth for one year for $2,000 (Justice Policy Institute, 2020 and Public and Private Ventures, 2014).An article published on April 7, 2023, by an Orlando Sentinel reporter states, “In the span of a little over a month, Central Florida has been left reeling by several gruesome gun deaths, many of them young children. The shootings also have medical leaders pleading for gun violence to be treated like a nonpartisan public health crisis rather than a political issue.”

  • A. Our mentees are hopeful at-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 24 and those in the Orange County Juvenile Justice System. Our goal is to provide coordinated, comprehensive wrap-around services that offer prevention and intervention services and promote higher education for at-risk youth.

  • A. WUM receives referrals for over 40 different agencies, but individuals may apply through our main office as well. The more obstacles in a young person’s life, the more they need to be in our program.

  • A. As a community service provider in Central Floridaforover15years, WUM has earned the trust and respect of local youth and their families. WUM has also developed strong connections to community providers, such as the Orange County Public School system, Juvenile Justice Assessment Center, the Children’s Home Society, the City of Orlando, the Orange County Government, local judges, and others, which enables our youth to experience a wide variety of opportunities, and more significant outcomes. Weare excited to offer you the chance to become one of our partners as we fight to save our youth and tomorrow’s leaders!

  • A. WUM cannot be successful without the continued support of our donors, volunteers and community. All donations made will directly fund all programs here at WUM. Your kindness and generosity is helping change our youth’s lives!

  • A. Our organization has many volunteers throughout the community. We are always seeking individuals who are wanting to use their skills and talents to help us in our mission to transform the lives of these wonderful youth. Please fill out our contact us form with a brief description of what you would like to do and your availability and we will contact you soon.