Pittsburgh advocate Chip Burke recognized nationally for mentoring work

Long-time local advocate Charles “Chip” Burke, Jr. was recognized by the National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) at the Library of Congress this past weekend when he received the Excellence in Mentoring Award, a national award that recognizes individuals who have been dedicated to the mentoring needs of youth. Four others from across the country also received the award.

Colleen Fedor, the executive director of The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA, nominated Burke who founded the organization in 1995 and has been involved for its entire 20-year history in Pittsburgh. Burke has not only helped to build a strong, talented and committed board of directors, says Fedor, but he has also represented the organization to the philanthropic and nonprofit communities. “Every step, every decision that has led to our success as a mentoring partnership, Chip has been a part of that,” Fedor says. “There’s no better example of someone who has made a difference for us.”

Burke explains that the success of the program comes from understanding and implementing effective practice. While research shows that quality mentors can have an overwhelmingly positive effect on a child’s life – making children less likely to drop out of school and more likely to get a college education – having a bad mentor can be highly detrimental.

The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA works with local organizations and programs that offer mentoring services to youth and trains the leaders of these programs in effective practice – from background checks to the most successful tactics for matching children with appropriate mentors.

The Mentoring Partnership “advocates for standards and trains programs in best quality,” Burke says, so they can ensure that Pittsburgh’s children are connecting with the positive, affirmative role models they deserve.

It is because of his continued work with organizations such as the Mentoring Partnership as well as Pittsburgh Public Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Carnegie Museums and the Pittsburgh Promise among many others, that Burke was recognized in D.C. on January 28.

“I was really honored to be recognized nationally, because this award represents an honor for all of the people working locally as well – receiving [the Excellence in Mentoring Award] shows that Pittsburgh is doing it right.” Burke also emphasized that this work couldn’t be done without strong local leaders like Fedor, who is the longest tenured director of any program nationally. “This award recognized me, but this work couldn’t be done without directors like Colleen. She has really been the leader here.”

Featured photo: Chip Burke accepts his Excellence in Mentoring Award at the Library of Congress, Photo courtesy of MENTOR