ABout Us
Our Mission
The Crawford County Mentors Program exists to build impactful and meaningful mentor-mentee relationships for youth in Crawford County, from 6th grade to senior year. Our purpose is to foster supportive connections that cultivate critical life skills, instill a sense of love and value, and inspire confidence and boldness. By broadening horizons and empowering young individuals with character, commitment, personal discipline, and accountability, we aim to equip them to reach their full potential and contribute positively to their families and communities.
Why Mentoring Matters
One-on-one mentoring makes a substantial difference in the lives of young people. Research shows that mentoring relationships consistently produce positive outcomes across many areas of development, including education, social skills, emotional health, and long-term success. A large review of mentoring studies involving more than 25,000 youth around age 12 found that one-to-one mentoring had a statistically significant positive effect on outcomes such as school performance and behavior compared with peers who did not have mentors. (PubMed) Other research shows that students with mentors tend to earn higher grades, fail fewer courses, and are more likely to stay engaged in school. For example, mentored students often have higher GPAs, are less likely to fail classes, and are more likely to earn additional credits each year. (FutureEd) Long-term benefits extend into adulthood: individuals who had a mentor growing up are more likely to report that the relationship significantly contributed to their success, including educational attainment and career outcomes.(hps.holyoke.ma.us) These findings help explain why consistent, caring mentoring relationships can be a powerful impact in helping middle and high school students grow in confidence, stay on track academically, and prepare for a successful future.
Our Guiding Principles
Always do the right thing by acting with integrity and putting others first. Be a faithful servant leader. Diligently commit yourself to being honest, reliable, consistent, kind, respectful, and passionate about your community
Our Journey
Mid 2022
The Idea Begins
Longtime friends Matt Crall and Jamey Gregory began discussing the need for a structured mentorship program to support youth in Crawford County, particularly students in grades 6–12.
December 2022
Research and Planning Begin
Matt and Jamey formally began researching how to build a mentorship program and identify best practices for supporting young people through positive mentoring relationships.
June 2024
Community Partnership Forms
The first formal planning meeting was held with Brad DeCamp and Paula Brown from the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board. All parties agreed there was a strong need for a mentorship program serving youth across the county.
Mid–Late 2024
Building Community Support
Meetings expanded across the community with schools, Educational Service Centers, United Way, Rotary, libraries, churches, YMCAs, and established mentoring programs in neighboring counties. These conversations helped shape the program’s structure, partnerships, and long-term vision.
April 2025
First Funding Secured
Initial funding for Crawford County Mentors was secured through the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board, Crawford County Community Foundation, and the Galion Community Foundation.
May 2025
Leadership Begins
At the first official board meeting, Victoria Caldwell was unanimously approved as the first Director of Crawford County Mentors and accepted the position.
May 2025 and Beyond
Launching the Mission
With leadership in place, Crawford County Mentors began building partnerships, recruiting mentors, and laying the groundwork to connect caring adults with youth across Crawford County.
Where we’re going
…we’re just getting started!
The strong response from our community has shown that people care deeply about making sure young people have the support they need to succeed.
In the coming years, our goal is to steadily grow the program so that every young person in Crawford County who could benefit from a mentor has the opportunity to be matched with a caring adult. As more mentors step forward and more students are referred by our schools and families, we will continue building strong, lasting mentoring relationships across the county.
We are also working to strengthen the long-term sustainability and have received our 501(c)(3) as an independent non-profit. This step will allow us to expand partnerships, pursue additional funding opportunities, and continue growing a program that serves youth throughout our community.
The future of Crawford County is sitting in our classrooms today — and together we can help them succeed.
Message from our Director
As the Executive Director of Crawford County Mentors I believe my purpose is to inspire and support anyone in pursuing excellence in their education, relationships, and citizenship. I am committed to creating an environment where people are heard and served right where they are, and encouraged to reach their own personal level of excellence - grounded in a strong sense of self worth, pride in personal achievements, and an understanding of humility and servant leadership. I believe we all should act justly, be merciful towards others and ourselves, and serve willingly when it’s within our power to do so.
Victoria Caldwell
Board Members
Class of 2025-2026
Kevin Kimmel
Superintendent, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center
Joe Stafford
Pastor, Galion Wesley Chapel Church
Christy Stinehelfer
Associate Professor of Teaching in Nuclear Medicine/ Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Diagnostic Services, University of Findlay
Class of 2026-2027
Terry Gribble
Director, Galion YMCA
Clayton Herold
Assistant VP Commercial Lender, Park National Bank
Todd Martin
Assistant Superintendent, North Central Ohio Education Service Center
Class of 2027-2028
Donna Laipply, Chair (2 yrs.)
Retired Manager, Grace Polaris Church
Chris Martin, Vice Chair (2 yrs.)
DARE Officer, Crawford County Sheriff Department
Rhonda Rowland, Secretary (2 yrs)
Personal Lines Manager, Ohio Mutual Insurance
Class of 2028-2029
Kevin Kimmel
Superintendent, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center
Joe Stafford
Pastor, Galion Wesley Chapel Church
Jamey Gregory
Crawford County Prosecutor Investigator
Ex-Officio Members
Matt Crall
Crawford County Prosecutor
Victoria Caldwell
Executive Director, Crawford County Mentors
Brad DeCamp
Executive Director, Crawford-Marion ADAMH
Paula Brown
Associate Director, Crawford-Marion ADAMH
CCM Crawford County Prosecutor-Appointed Representative
Jamey Gregory
Crawford County Prosecutor Investigator