January is National Mentoring Month. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had great mentors – family, friends, fellow alums, people who did not know me but took time out to help – and to serve as a mentor, both informally and formally as part of the Fulfillment Fund program in L.A.

The proclamation signed by President Obama on January 4 proclaiming it National Mentoring Month captures the essence of the mentor/mentee relationship.  And after reading it, please check out the wonderful story of Univ. of Texas basketball player Dexter Pittman and his young friend, Silas Connolly. You will find that story is all about empathy, about friendship, and about taking time out to just show you care.  That is mentoring in a nutshell.

You can access ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil’s great article, “Slimmed-down Pittman inspires local kid; With Dex’s encouragement, Austin youth sheds weight and changes perspective on life,” by clicking here.