{"id":20165,"date":"2025-10-27T17:36:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/?post_type=news&p=20165"},"modified":"2025-10-27T17:36:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:36:41","slug":"a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/","title":{"rendered":"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding Her Way Back to Chinatown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Janelle Teng walked into P.S. 001 in Chinatown on a Saturday morning in 2019, she thought she was signing up to teach reading lessons. She didn\u2019t realize it would be the start of a six-year journey that would transform her relationship with community and herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI first got involved with Apex because I wanted to show up for Chinatown,\u201d she says. \u201cFor many years, I heard stories from my husband\u2019s grandfather, who immigrated from China in the 1930s and actually went to that same school. I just felt this deep pull to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Janelle, those early mornings spent leading literacy sessions with first- and second-graders weren\u2019t just volunteer hours, they were moments of reconnection. \u201cThere\u2019s something really grounding about returning to a place with so much history, especially when it\u2019s tied to your own family\u2019s immigrant story,\u201d she reflects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What began as a local commitment soon deepened into something larger. When the pandemic hit and Apex pivoted to virtual programming, Janelle followed, this time as part of the organization\u2019s National Virtual Mentoring Program (NVMP)<\/a>, designed to reach youth beyond New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Teresa: A Connection Beyond the Screen<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Janelle\u2019s match, Teresa, was a high school student from New Jersey, quiet at first, but curious and full of potential. Their conversations began on video calls after the uncertainty of lockdowns, online classes, and the stress of college applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis was my first time mentoring someone Teresa\u2019s age,\u201d Janelle recalls. \u201cI was blown away by her emotional intelligence. We talked about everything, friendships, family, and how to handle change. She navigated all of it with so much grace.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Teresa, that steady presence made a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy experience with NVMP has been such a fun and joyful journey,\u201d she says. \u201cJanelle helped me through high school, the college process, and just guided me along the way. I met so many new people through the program, gained friends, and found opportunities I never would\u2019ve had otherwise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two met virtually for nearly two years, building a friendship grounded in mutual curiosity and care. \u201cJanelle always encouraged me to be open-minded and supportive,\u201d Teresa shares. \u201cNow that our formal mentorship is ending, I feel like I\u2019ve gained a good friend I can always count on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teresa is now beginning her first year of college, carrying with her the same curiosity and openness that defined her time in NVMP. The lessons and friendship she built with Janelle continue to guide her, a reminder that meaningful connections can grow far beyond the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"high<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lessons in Creativity, Mindfulness, and Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the physical distance, Janelle and Teresa found ways to create tangible memories. One of their favorite projects was their year-end creative project, a simple idea that turned out to be much more meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both wanted to do something hands-on, so we decided to sculpt with clay,\u201d Janelle laughs. \u201cIt started as just a fun art activity, but it opened up these bigger conversations about mindfulness, creativity, and giving. Later, Teresa started making little clay gifts for people in her life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a moment that captured the spirit of the Apex mentoring experience: creativity as connection, learning as a two-way street. Janelle says. \u201cI learned just as much from Teresa, from other volunteers, from the entire Apex community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepening the Commitment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond mentoring, Janelle\u2019s time with Apex evolved. She joined Apex for Youth\u2019s \u09b8\u09b9\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09c0 \u09ac\u09cb\u09b0\u09cd\u09a1<\/a> (AB) three years ago, strengthening the volunteer community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApex is all about depth,\u201d she explains. \u201cYou don\u2019t come in and have shallow relationships. You get to know people, you talk about identity, belonging, purpose. I joined AB because I wanted to deepen my relationship with the organization and the people in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together with fellow Associate Board member Elizabeth Yan, Janelle co-created a small group curriculum called Identity Development<\/em>, a volunteer-led space for mentors to explore their own stories and cultural identities. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe realized that we ask our youth to do so much deep thinking about who they are, and we wanted to give volunteers a place to do that too,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was one of the most meaningful things I\u2019ve worked on.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through Apex, Janelle found a community of adults also navigating growth, people who were eager to learn, give back, and build something lasting. \u201cVolunteering at Apex has been a practice,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about doing good; it\u2019s about practicing openness, trying new things, and showing up even when you\u2019re unsure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentorship as a Mirror<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Janelle has come to see mentorship not only as service, but as reflection. \u201cBeing a mentor makes you more intentional,\u201d she says. \u201cYou start thinking, \u2018How do I want to show up for my mentee?\u2019 and that awareness starts to ripple out into the rest of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ripple was visible in her relationship with Teresa. \u201cBy the end of our match, Teresa told me that seeing me speak up in workshops helped her feel more confident doing the same,\u201d Janelle remembers. \u201cShe said, \u2018I saw you do it, and nothing bad happened.\u2019 That was such a special moment, it reminded me that even small actions can make others feel braver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of all, Apex gave me a model for living out my values: while I truly believe it takes a village to raise the next generation, volunteering gave me another way to embody that role.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"high<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Full Circle Moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After six years of volunteering, mentoring, and serving on the Associate Board, Janelle \u201cgraduated\u201d from her formal Apex roles. To celebrate this milestone, she and her husband (who\u2019s also an Apex mentor) pledged to match donations to Apex, raising $10,000 and matching it dollar-for-dollar<\/strong> for a total of $20,000 <\/strong>in support of the next generation of mentors and youth leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt felt like such a full circle moment,\u201d she says. \u201cI joined Apex thinking I had something to give, and in the end, I received so much more: Friendships, laughter, perspective, and a deeper sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we kick off Giving Season, join us in celebrating mentors like Janelle, whose dedication transforms communities and inspires the next generation to dream without limits. With your support, we know that every moment and every dollar will help Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday, December 2.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":20166,"template":"","class_list":["post-20165","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/\u0996\u09ac\u09b0-\u098f\u09ac\u0982-\u0998\u09cb\u09b7\u09a3\u09be\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/\u0996\u09ac\u09b0-\u098f\u09ac\u0982-\u0998\u09cb\u09b7\u09a3\u09be\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Apex for Youth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ApexForYouth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-27T21:36:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-1300x867.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"867\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 \u09ae\u09bf\u09a8\u09bf\u099f\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-27T21:36:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-27T21:36:41+00:00\",\"description\":\"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"bn-BD\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"bn-BD\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg\",\"width\":4150,\"height\":2550,\"caption\":\"high school mentorship programs, giving Tuesday, national mentoring day, volunteer impact, mentorship journey, volunteer fundraiser, volunteer legacy\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/news-and-announcements\\\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Apex for Youth\",\"description\":\"Apex for Youth empowers underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families in NYC to unlock their potential and a world of possibility.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"bn-BD\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Apex for Youth\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"bn-BD\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/apex-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/apex-logo.jpg\",\"width\":525,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"Apex for Youth\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/apexforyouth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/ApexForYouth\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/apexforyouth\\\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth","description":"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/\u0996\u09ac\u09b0-\u098f\u09ac\u0982-\u0998\u09cb\u09b7\u09a3\u09be\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth","og_description":"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.","og_url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/\u0996\u09ac\u09b0-\u098f\u09ac\u0982-\u0998\u09cb\u09b7\u09a3\u09be\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/","og_site_name":"Apex for Youth","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ApexForYouth\/","article_modified_time":"2025-10-27T21:36:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1300,"height":867,"url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-1300x867.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 \u09ae\u09bf\u09a8\u09bf\u099f"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/","url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/","name":"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised | Apex for Youth","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-27T21:36:40+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-27T21:36:41+00:00","description":"After six years of mentoring with Apex for Youth, Janelle Teng raised $20,000 to empower future mentors and youth.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"bn-BD","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"bn-BD","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_NVMPRetreat_250801-73-e1762181176816.jpg","width":4150,"height":2550,"caption":"high school mentorship programs, giving Tuesday, national mentoring day, volunteer impact, mentorship journey, volunteer fundraiser, volunteer legacy"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/news-and-announcements\/a-six-year-mentorship-story-that-ended-with-20k-raised\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Six-Year Mentorship Story That Ended with $20K Raised"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/","name":"Apex for Youth","description":"\u0985\u09cd\u09af\u09be\u09aa\u09c7\u0995\u09cd\u09b8 \u09ab\u09b0 \u0987\u09af\u09bc\u09c1\u09a5 \u09a8\u09bf\u0989 \u0987\u09af\u09bc\u09b0\u09cd\u0995 \u09b8\u09bf\u099f\u09bf\u09b0 \u09a8\u09bf\u09ae\u09cd\u09a8-\u0986\u09af\u09bc\u09c7\u09b0 \u09aa\u09b0\u09bf\u09ac\u09be\u09b0\u09c7\u09b0 \u09b8\u09c1\u09ac\u09bf\u09a7\u09be\u09ac\u099e\u09cd\u099a\u09bf\u09a4 \u098f\u09b6\u09c0\u09af\u09bc \u098f\u09ac\u0982 \u0985\u09ad\u09bf\u09ac\u09be\u09b8\u09c0 \u09af\u09c1\u09ac\u0995\u09a6\u09c7\u09b0 \u09a4\u09be\u09a6\u09c7\u09b0 \u09b8\u09ae\u09cd\u09ad\u09be\u09ac\u09a8\u09be \u098f\u09ac\u0982 \u09b8\u09ae\u09cd\u09ad\u09be\u09ac\u09a8\u09be\u09b0 \u099c\u0997\u09ce \u0989\u09a8\u09cd\u09ae\u09cb\u099a\u09a8 \u0995\u09b0\u09be\u09b0 \u0995\u09cd\u09b7\u09ae\u09a4\u09be \u09aa\u09cd\u09b0\u09a6\u09be\u09a8 \u0995\u09b0\u09c7\u0964","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"bn-BD"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#organization","name":"Apex for Youth","url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"bn-BD","@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/apex-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/apex-logo.jpg","width":525,"height":250,"caption":"Apex for Youth"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ApexForYouth\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/apexforyouth\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/20165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}