CMFK appears on national TV show
Camera crews from the “Martha Stewart Show” filmed a College Mentors for Kids meeting in UIndy Hall.
By Kim Puckett | News Editor
When College Mentors for Kids CEO Erin Slater found out she would be recognized on the “Martha Stewart Show” for a “Dreamers into Doers Award,” she had to select one chapter from her over 20 organization locations to represent CMFK. Because of the University of Indianapolis’ status as 2009 Chapter of the Year, Slater selected the UIndy to be featured.
Led by four-year president and senior Curtis Ward, and Adviser Marianna Foulkrod, the UIndy chapter has 90 members and 22 officers—the largest in the CMFK organization.
“Our program here is more sustainable and stable because of our large membership. We have also had great success with the schools that we work with,” Foulkrod said. “That’s why we were chosen by the CEO.”
CMFK works with children from local schools, including IPS #114, to help promote higher education to at-risk youth through weekly on-campus visits. Senior Sean Adams, the chapter’s general manager, spoke to the “Martha” crew when the cameras visited campus. He told the show he decided to pursue a career in education because of CMFK’s influence.
“College Mentors has made me realize that not everyone is given an opportunity to go to college,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with the kids, so I decided after I get my degree in biology, I am going to get a master’s in teaching.”
Ward hopes the publicity from the show will help the large staff grow even larger. He has been the UIndy chapter president since his freshman year, after his graduation in May, the more than 100-member team is going to have to continue on with a new leader.
“We are working right now to find someone to start training to fill my position,” Ward said. “When I got into the position, I was completely blind sided. I don’t want to leave my successor in that position at all.”
Foulkrod said as the group’s adviser, she facilitates any needs they have for fund raising, supplies and community partnerships. She said the students do the real work, especially their long-time leader Ward.
“He’s done a great job leading the group, and we’re going to miss him when he’s gone,” she said.
The complete video of CMFK on “Martha” can be seen on the show’s Web site (marthastewart.com).
