RIMP, Amica Host National Mentoring Month VIP Reception

Celebrate Thank Your Mentor Day!

LINCOLN, R.I. – The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP), through the
generosity of the Amica Companies Foundation, honored its mentors, donors, partners
and supporters at a special National Mentoring Month VIP reception on Thursday, Jan.
21. The reception, held at Amica Insurance, coincided with the celebration of
National Thank Your Mentor Day.

Congressman Jim Langevin discussed the power of mentoring, saying, “All of us have
had someone in our lives that has helped us in some way and made a profound
difference, and all of us have an obligation to give back in some way and do the
same for others.” Added Congressman David Cicilline, “People always say, There are
so many big challenges we face in our state,’ What can I do?’ Being a mentor is a
perfect answer to that. Every single person can be a mentor and make a difference.”

“The young people who participate in one-to-one mentoring programs through RIMP get
attention, love and support from an adult mentor who focuses on seeing them
succeed,” said Shameem Awan, an assistant vice president in Amica’s claims executive
department and vice chair of RIMP’s board of directors. “Research shows that having
strong mentor relationships helps young people succeed in all facets of their lives.
I feel that every child should have someone to turn to, so that they feel like they
matter, that they are not alone in difficult situations, and that they have a
shoulder to cry or laugh on when they need it most.”

Jo-Ann Schofield, RIMP president and CEO presented the first Peter Koch Memorial
Award to Mario Hilario of NBC 10. The award recognizes the RIMP supporter who
carries on Peter’s legacy of energy, enthusiasm, and goodwill in support of youth
mentor. “Mario has supported the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership for many
years,” said Schofield. “Most notably through his participation as a contestant,
judge, host, and opening number headliner at our annual Dancing with the Stars of
Mentoring fundraiser. He is truly deserving of this honor.”

“It’s heartening to know,” said Hilario “that we are raising awareness about
mentoring, about the mission. Receiving this award, in his name, in his honor for
me is the true prize. Peter, I hope we do you proud again this year. Thank you for
all you’ve done.”

The program also included words about the value of mentoring from a handful of
mentors from across the state and from an active mentoring pair with the Woonsocket
Mentor Program. Janet Sawyer, from CVS Health, told the crowd about her mentoring
relationship with Brianna Morgan. Now, in their fourth year together, Brianna has
begun to realize the value of Janet’s consistent presence in her life, “I was
surprised to see Janet again after that first year, I wasn’t going to school every
day and she helped me understand that school was important.” Janet’s influence has
seen Brianna’s school absences drop from 39 days in their first year together to
zero so far this school year.

RIMP also recognized five of its partnering programs for achievement in the Quality
Mentoring System (QMS). QMS is a nationally recognized initiative to review, rate
and improve the quality of mentoring programs throughout the partnership. All of
the programs were successfully recertified as “Premier” programs, the highest level
attainable through QMS.

For more information about mentoring and how you can get involved, contact the Rhode
Island Mentoring Partnership at 401-732-7700, or visit our website www.MentorRI.org.

BE SOMEONE WHO MATTERS

TO SOMEONE WHO MATTERS!

About Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership

Our mission is to enhance the lives of Rhode Island youth through mentoring. Our
philosophy is simple: When we invest today in expanding our community’s capacity to
mentor our youth, we will see an incredible return in the lives of our children and
the health of our communities for generations to come. RIMP serves as an umbrella
organization for dozens of mentoring programs around Rhode Island, offering help
with recruitment, training and other support. RIMP is also directly responsible for
the coordination of the school-based mentoring programs in Warwick, Woonsocket,
Newport and Middletown.

About Amica Insurance

Amica Mutual Insurance Co., the nation’s oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was
founded in 1907. The company, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is a national writer
of auto, home, marine and umbrella insurance. Life coverage is available through
Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than
3,400 people in 44 offices across the country. For more information, visit
Amica.com.

Photo Caption: Mario Hilario is presented with the inaugural Peter Koch Memorial
Award (from left to right); Jo-Ann Schofield, President & CEO of RIMP; Shameem
Awan, Vice Chair of the RIMP Board of Directors and Assistant Vice President at
Amica; Mario Hilario, NBC 10; Deb Gormley, RIMP Board Chair and Executive Vice
President of The Washington Trust Company; Kristen Koch, Daughter of Peter Koch, and
Dr. Patricia Koch, Sister of Peter Koch.