Lauryn Williams Kicks off Second Year of Mentoring Program

Oct. 23, 2008

CORAL GABLES – Former University of Miami track star and two-time Olympian Lauryn Williams kicked off the second year of the Lauryn Williams Mentoring Program, affiliated with Fun4Kidz. The program is designed to match 35 South Miami Middle School students with 35 student-athletes from the Miami women’s track and field and football teams.

The program began Wednesday at the Coral Gables campus as 18 boys and 17 girls had the opportunity to watch their mentors practice their respective sport. After the practices were concluded, the students enjoyed dinner with their mentor in the Hecht Athletic Center.

The goal of the Lauryn Williams program is to have weekly contact between student and mentor, either by phone or e-mail and to participate in activities with their mentor in person on a monthly basis.

This Saturday, the South Miami students will attend the Miami-Wake Forest football game at Dolphin Stadium. Other monthly events include a Thanksgiving food give-a-way, a holiday party toy give-a-way and a night out with their mentors at Gameworks.

Williams joined forces with Fun4Kidz a year ago, conducting a similar program. Fun4Kidz also sponsors the Sanya Richards Fast Track Program.