Mentors & Buddies.
One caring adult, one student, one lunch at a time. Our mentoring and lunch buddy program puts consistent, personal investment into the students of San Antonio’s west side — the kids the system is most likely to miss.
A teacher who refused to settle for “at risk.”
Juliana Perales, a local teacher from Barkely Ruiz Elementary, came to us with a burden: she needed to do more for the students who fall below the “at risk” student population. We had met Juliana through our on-campus events and serving in the community.
Juliana knew the level of commitment those students needed couldn’t be reached from inside the classroom. So she resigned her position — and came back as a volunteer — to teach, mentor, and invest in the lives of her students on a personal level and see real life change.
Today she leads our lunch buddy and mentoring program.
She resigned her position and came back as a volunteer — to invest in her students on a personal level and see life change.
The heart behind Mentors & BuddiesSmall commitments. Life change.
You don’t need a teaching degree to change a student’s trajectory — you need consistency, kindness, and a little time. That’s the whole model.
Be a lunch buddy
Share a lunch and a conversation with a student who needs a steady, encouraging adult in their week.
Mentor one-on-one
Teach, encourage, and invest in a student personally — the kind of relationship that outlasts a school year.
Keep showing up
Transformation isn’t a one-time event. The students we serve change because someone keeps coming back.
Be a part of serving the students in our community.
Mentors & Buddies works hand-in-hand with Education LIVE, our framework for inspiring students to success through love, individual focus, victories, and high expectations.
Reach out and we’ll connect you with Juliana and the team to find the right fit for you.
A student is waiting on someone like you.
- Volunteer as a mentor or lunch buddy
- No teaching background required — just commitment
- Serve students right here in San Antonio’s inner city
- Or fuel the program with a gift
One lunch a week can rewrite a student’s story.
Volunteer as a mentor or buddy — or stand behind the program with your giving.