43 boys and girls in the area have Mentors (big brothers/sisters) that spend time weekly with them thanks to a program directed by Jennifer Swartzlander, The Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County. The mentors take them to movies, the park, out for pizza etc. to provide some adult bonding. Jennifer has been there 2 years. She spent 20 years of her career at the Hope House as a case manager, child advocate and asst. director. She earned a Bachelors degree from BG and a Masters in Social Work from THE Ohio State University. She is married with 2 children. Her kids activities keep her busy: basketball, track, piano and quiz bowl to name a few. She has a close family and is the youngest of six children. She credits her parents with her sense of humor coming from her mother and her dad, a WWII vet with quiet consistency. Her words of wisdom are “To laugh often and love much.”
