CHAMPS Program  

CHAMPS stands for “Collegiates Helping As Mentors in Public Schools” Program.   

Website : http://gatortimes.ufl.edu/2007/09/04/champs-needs-volunteers/   (2007 website page) 

Contact: (352) 955-6900, gavanh@sbac.edu 

Who they are: The CHAMPS Program is a youth motivator program for students in the Alachua County Public School System.  It was started in 1991, and since then, more than 4000 college students have volunteered with the program.   

What YOU can do to help : College volunteers are needed to mentor elementary and middle school students.  Each volunteer is paired with an at-risk student for a semester.  As a volunteer, you act as a mentor and special friend to the student and visit them during school for an hour each week.  Each volunteer must commit to at least one whole semester, though many of the college students continue in the program.  Formal recruitment, placement, and orientation for volunteers is conducted at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters each year.