Mentorship program finishes biggest year with party

Bagley Downs — Great Life Mentoring capped off its 17th year with a party at Big Al’s, made possible by donations from the Columbia River Mental Health Foundation, Big Al’s and local Starbucks stores, which worked with the organization. They combined to donate enough money to cover 12 bowling lanes, food and drinks, arcade games, a professional photographer and personalized holiday gifts for kids at the party. “With 126 participants, this was the program’s biggest year yet,” Elizabeth Higley, the program’s founder, said in a release from the organization. “We have spent years committed to developing and field-testing Great Life Mentoring with a research component that recognizes it as a viable model for improving mental health outcomes for children. We’ve always strived for quality over quantity. Now we’re able to do both.” The organization is looking to serve more kids in 2018, and needs more mentors to do so. For more information, visit www.greatlifementoring.com. The organization is a partnership between Columbia River Mental Health and the Clark County Department of Community Services.