‘It’s mutually beneficial’: ALKU, Mass Mentoring Partnership help youth succeed
By Beth Treffeisen – Special to the Journal
May 5, 2023
Partners with a Purpose is a monthly editorial feature that highlights companies and nonprofits working together in unique and interesting ways.
Duration of the partnership: 8 years
Impact of Mass Mentoring Partnership: With only 14 staff members, the nonprofit reaches about 5,000 youth across Massachusetts with over 350 programs.
Scope of ALKU: Headquartered in Andover, the staffing firm has over 600 employees spread across its offices that extend into Charlotte, Tennessee and Herndon, Virginia.
Closing the gap between inequitable access to critical relationships to further a young person’s career is a mission that staffing firm ALKU and its nonprofit partner Mass Mentoring Partnership have worked for nearly a decade to overcome.
“Any nonprofit profit would be privileged to have even a portion of this kind of commitment,” said Amanda Doyle-Bouvier, the chief advancement officer at Mass Mentoring Partnership. “This corporate partnership, it’s a family affair.”
The Mass Mentoring Partnership, founded in 1992, describes itself as “committed to ensuring all young people in Massachusetts have the mentoring relationships they need to develop into thriving, engaged adults, resulting in vibrant communities.”
Working as an intermediary between students and mentees, Mass Mentoring Partnership provides educational resources to provide the best outcomes for students embarking on their next journey following high school graduation.
ALKU’s CEO and founder Mark Eldridge started the company in 2007, and it has ranked as the Best Place to Work for a large company in recent years in the BBJ’s annual competition. Eldridge began the partnership with the nonprofit in 2015, is now the vice president of the Mass Mentoring Partnership’s board.
ALKU’s employees are mentoring four students at Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School in Methuen. The company also hosts 161 interns annually, on sight in Andover and virtually, who are all paired with an ALKU mentor.
“It’s mutually beneficial, in the sense that there’s real purpose coming from both directions,” said Elvis Bisono, the community relations coordinator at ALKU. “It’s not just MMP coming to the door asking for more and more.”
The program allows for team-building camaraderie, peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities, and internal committees that enable employees to be creative in raising money and helping youth grow through mentorships.
Bisono said that mentors allow the students to have someone to talk to for professional development and personal advice.
“I think that’s what makes it feel authentic and allows for there to be a real connected purpose and mission moving together,” said Bisono.
As the central tenant of their partnership, ALKU and the Mass Mentoring Partnership has provided $30,000 in academic scholarships to local high school seniors. So far, there have been eight recipients, with the most recent cycle adding two $30,000 scholarships to commemorate Mass Mentoring Partnership’s 30th anniversary. The awardees also receive mentoring throughout their college career.
Bisono said that scholarships allow students to think about furthering their education rather than how they will fund it.
“With this scholarship, they are able to have a huge weight lifted off their shoulders,” said Bisono.
After having conservations with scholarship recipients and their families, Bisono said, “You can tell how grateful they are not to have to worry, not have to think down the line ‘Oh my god, how am I going to pay for this in a couple of years later.’ Instead, they’re able to focus on the right now.”
The program has proven the test of time. Mentors and awardees remain in contact for as long as 10 years after receiving the scholarship.
As Mass Mentoring Partnership plans for next year, having the extra support from ALKU stems any worries about being able to continue the nonprofit’s goals.
“We’re doing this together. We set these goals together. We’re moving ahead, and everybody has a sense of responsibility around it, too,” said Doyle-Bouvier. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity to work together for the deeper impact for the young people of Massachusetts.”
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This article was originally posted on Boston Business Journals.