(Minneapolis, MN) — December 9th, 2024 — Access to a positive role model who shares a child’s community and culture can make a lasting difference in the life of a student — as well as in the life of the young adult mentoring them. This is the premise that guides Minnesota-based youth development nonprofit JP4 Foundation, which hosted its annual fundraiser event recently at the Radisson Blu Mall of America.
Our mission at JP4 is fueled by the belief that positive relationships have reciprocal power — that the transformative influence flows both ways,” said Jeff Huth, the JP4 Foundation’s Executive Director. “While our primary focus at JP4 is to impact students, a remarkable byproduct of our efforts is the development of our mentors. They leave our students with a legacy of leadership, knowledge and wisdom while gaining valuable experience preparing them to lead in the workforce with empathy, compassion and their infectious energy.”
At the event, which raised more than $100,000 for JP4, young adult mentors from the organization shared their first-hand accounts of working at JP4’s after-school and summer programs, which serve youth from historically marginalized communities in the Twin Cities. A common theme across their stories — the mutual benefits of the student-mentor relationship.
“We called our theme for the event, ‘Two Paths. One Journey,’” Huff said. “It’s a theme that serves to recognize that it’s not just the kids who are benefiting from what we do — our young adult mentors are also having their lives changed through their experience at JP4. ‘Two Paths. One Journey’ signifies the dual-track development that’s happening at our organization day in and day out.”
The event brought together more than 250 community members and organizations from across the Twin Cities to highlight the positive impact JP4 is making in the lives of both the students it serves and the young adult mentors it employs. More than 20 JP4 mentors were in attendance with their family and friends to be recognized for their valuable work in the community and share their journeys with other event attendees.
“Working with JP4 has opened my eyes to so many surprising and great things,” said Eli, one of JP4’s mentors. “If you had asked me when I was younger, I would never have guessed I would be working with kids and experiencing the joy that comes with it. Now, when I think of my future, it’s full of new possibilities like maybe working at a school in some capacity or tutoring kids. I am so thankful to my JP4 family, our students and to everyone whose support helps make the growth for us as mentors as well as for our students possible.”
With a safe and equitable environment, the JP4 Foundation provides supportive relationships, constructive social engagement and increased social-emotional competencies for Twin Cities youth through a high-engagement 2:1 student-to-mentor ratio. JP4 provides support to its mentors across wellness, personal development, financial literacy, career counseling and more — the benefits of which are then passed on to the youth the mentors serve.
“Not only has the JP4 Foundation provided me a job, but also it has provided me with the necessary leadership and public speaking skills for my future career,” said Katelyn, another JP4 mentor. “With JP4, I am a leader of myself and to others. My favorite part about the program is seeing the students smile and continually building relationships with them. It’s not just working with students that makes the JP4 program so fun and enjoyable — our manager and director makes sure we mentors are ready to support students every day.”
The impact of JP4’s program is tangible. Among teachers with students enrolled in JP4’s programming, 71% noticed improved academic performance, 88% noticed an increase in school attendance and engagement and 100% noticed improved collaboration skills, a study by the organization found.




“JP4 isn’t just a foundation — it’s a movement,” said a third JP4 mentor named Ashley. “And it’s a wonderful feeling to see the smiles on the kids’ faces every day and know that we are doing something positive. JP4 has helped me realize that I want to be somebody that other people can look up to, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. It’s been incredible to put my natural caregiver traits to work with the kids and watch them grow week after week, but also to watch myself grow alongside them.”
100% of every dollar raised through Saturday’s event went directly toward program funding. $1,500 ensures a child receives a dedicated mentor and programming for the duration of the school year.
“Our students and our mentors are on two different paths, but it’s surely one journey,” Huth said. “What’s more, it’s a journey that draws others in. And there’s beauty to that — that, by committing to a goal and believing in it through the obstacles, you can create a ripple effect that waters seeds you didn’t even know were there. It’s a journey that benefits everyone. And it’s a journey that both our students and mentors can be tremendously proud of.”
The mission of the JP4 Foundation is to re-imagine youth mentoring to create exponential impact on Twin Cities communities. Additional information on ways to support the organization is available at www.jp4foundation.org.