On Sunday, May 3, Talbot Mentors will celebrate the season with its annual Spring Brunch, to be held at Talbot Country Club beginning at 11 a.m. The buffet brunch is Talbot Mentors’ key fundraiser of the year, supporting the organization’s program matching volunteers with students who can benefit from adult friends in their lives. Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Wilmington Trust are early sponsors of the event.
A silent auction of donated items, raffle and blind wine bottle pick offer opportunities for guests to provide additional support while taking home prizes including gift packages, jewelry, unique artwork, hand-knit items by local artisans, gift certificates and more.
Guests may mingle and make their bids while sipping coffee and juice or refreshments from the bar before sitting down to omelets made to order and other gourmet brunch fare, accompanied by live musical entertainment.
This year, the event also is an opportunity for the organization to honor one of Talbot Mentors’ most dedicated volunteers. Al Smith has been serving the organization since its founding in 1997 by Phil Kirby and will receive Talbot Mentors’ first Phil Kirby Founders Award.
Kirby established Talbot Mentors after a 35-year-old man approached him one day and said, “Thank you.” Kirby had no idea who the man was and asked why he was thanking him. The man said, “Twenty years ago, you spent fifteen minutes with me, just talking to me and giving me some advice, and that’s what changed my life.”
Kirby never saw the man again, but the incident inspired him to help others make a similar difference in children’s lives. Al Smith and several others, including George Merrill and Tom Fauntleroy, worked with Kirby to turn that inspiration into reality and continued to help build the organization following Kirby’s death in 2000. Smith served six years as president of the board, continues to serve as a board member, and has been a mentor to three students over the years.
Current Talbot Mentors Board President Gordon Fronk credits Smith with being a mentor to the organization itself. “Al has been actively involved since the beginning,” said Fronk, noting contributions beyond Smith’s board and mentoring volunteer service. “Several persons and organizations, persuaded by Al’s enthusiasm for the mission and significance of Talbot Mentors, have been persuaded to make major financial contributions to support the work of Talbot Mentors, not to mention generous gifts Al has made himself.”
The greatest gift Smith has given is his time and attention to his mentees. From the beginning, Smith was interested in working one on one with children and making a difference in their lives. He takes pride in the success of his latest mentee, Tyrell Jackson, now 21, who has his own catering business after earning a degree from the Culinary Institute of Virginia.
Smith said he is delighted to be receiving the award, but quickly turned the subject back to the organization’s challenges. Saluting Kirby’s foresight in sustaining Talbot Mentors by establishing an endowment, Smith said the biggest challenge still is finding the mentors to match with the students.
That self-effacing support for the organization has earned Smith this year’s recognition. “Al exemplifies all the characteristics found in great people who seek to do good all the time,” said Fronk, “and so we seek to honor him with an award named after our founder and Al’s good friend Phil Kirby.”
Fronk encourages others to join Talbot Mentors in honoring Al Smith at the Spring Brunch. Tickets are $75 each and can be reserved by calling the Talbot Mentors office at 410-770-5999 or by email to [email protected]. Reservations must be received by Friday, April 24.
For more information, to make a contribution, or to volunteer as a mentor, call Talbot Mentors at 410-770-5999 or visit www.talbotmentors.org.
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