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AZEEZALY S. JAFFER
Vice President, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS

January 2002

DISTRICT MANAGERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SALES POSTMASTERS

SUBJECT: Mentoring a Child Stamp

Continuing its long-standing tradition of raising awareness of social issues, the United States Postal Service issued the Mentoring a Child stamp January 10. Mentoring is valued very highly within the Postal Service, and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to help make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Richard J. Strasser, Jr., chief financial officer and executive vice president of the U.S. Postal Service, and Maryland Governor Parris Glendening, were joined by The National Mentoring Partnership and Maryland Mentoring Partnership joined at the First Day of Issue Ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland.

The social awareness stamps issued over the years by the Postal Service have helped stimulate conversation and action in communities nationwide, and these activities go hand in hand with the historic role of the Postal Service as a community leader. The National Mentoring Partnership, with headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, is an advocate for the expansion of mentoring and mentoring initiatives nationwide, providing assistance to any organization or individual wanting to develop, operate, or volunteer in a mentoring program.

Several national mentoring organizations in the United States, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, serve on The National Mentoring Partnership's Public Policy Council. Their mission is to assure greater support for quality mentoring by federal, state, and local government, and to expand the favorable attention given mentoring by the public policy community. In addition, schools, religious communities, and corporations, including the Postal Service, sponsor or participate in mentoring programs.

The effects of mentoring include greater self-confidence, improved relationships with peers and adults, better school attendance and academic performance, and increased interest in setting goals and preparing for careers. For more information on mentoring, visit the National Mentoring Partnership at www.mentoring.org or The Maryland Mentoring Partnership at www.marylandmentors.org.

As we promote the Mentoring a Child stamp, I want to thank you for your support. Our efforts will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the young people helped through mentoring, and if I may quote from Mr. Strasser's remarks at the First Day of Issue Ceremony, "The best way to prepare the new generation of leaders is for the current generation to guide, advise, and develop them."

"My thanks to each of you for all that you do to support our community relations efforts" A.

Azeezaly S. Jaffer
Vice President
cc: Vice Presidents, Area Operations
Manager, Capitol Metro Operations

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