Detroit, Michigan – July 26, 2005 – Today First Gentleman Mulhern addressed mentoring professionals from the Metro Detroit area to discuss quality standards recommended for mentoring programs in Michigan and he accepted a $10,000 donation to Mentor Michigan from Siemens.

The Mentor Michigan Providers Council, a body of 20 mentoring experts from across the state, drafted the standards from best practices developed by national, state, and local organizations.  The standards will help parents and guardians as well as those running mentoring programs understand what quality mentoring looks like.  First Gentleman Mulhern is presenting the standards and seeking feedback from mentoring professionals throughout the state at four Regional Trainings – the first was held today in Detroit.  Once the Standards are discussed and feedback incorporated, they will be adopted by Mentor Michigan and mentoring programs statewide.

“These standards are consistent with the Governor’s agenda to protect Michigan families – especially our children,” said First Gentleman Mulhern at the Mentor Michigan Regional Training in Detroit.  “It’s critical that the 30,000 children in Michigan involved with mentors have experiences that elevate them and increase their chances of success.”

“Research shows that certain program components are necessary for children to benefit from having a mentor,” said Janet Lawson, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission, the organization managing Mentor Michigan.  “Many of the mentoring programs in Michigan currently meet the standards.  In the coming months, Mentor Michigan will develop training to assist those who do not.”

Siemens, one of the world’s largest electrical engineering and electronics companies, is sponsoring the Mentor Michigan Regional Trainings this summer and supporting other Mentor Michigan activities.  Today, John Sanderson, President and CEO of Siemens VDO Automotive, presented a $10,000 check to First Gentleman Mulhern representing their corporate commitment.

“Siemens is contributing to Mentor Michigan because we believe it is imperative that children have the support they need to achieve in life,” said Sanderson.  “Mentoring can help a struggling child find his or her way.”

Mentor Michigan will continue to seek feedback through August at Regional Trainings in Saginaw, Muskegon, and Marquette.  Mentoring programs that are unable to attend one of the Regional Meetings can offer their feedback on the standards by visiting www.mentormichigan.org.  All feedback must be received by September 2, 2005.

Background

Mentor Michigan led by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, is working to ensure that all of our youth have stable, ongoing relationships with caring individuals.  Together with mentoring programs throughout the state, Mentor Michigan recruits mentors, develops partners and champions, advocates for mentoring issues and standards, provides resources and training, and recognizes the accomplishments of mentors and the organizations that support them.

Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.5 billion in fiscal 2004. Founded more than 155 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances.  With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Thirteen of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 440,000 people in 190 countries.  For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.

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