TD Ameritrade Helps Partnership Students Celebrate Fall

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from TD Ameritrade employees, a group of 17 sixth-grade students in The Partnership For Our Kids mentoring program were able enjoy a cornucopia of autumn activities at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, Monday, October 25th.

“My favorite part was the haunted house,” said Daniela, one of the students. “It was fun even though it wasn’t very haunted.” Along with spooky ruins, students explored a large corn maze, watched pumpkins being fired from a large cannon, jumped on inflatable ‘pillows’ and fed llamas, goats and camels. Four TD Ameritrade employees also joined the fall fun, assisting program staff members as additional chaperones for outing. “It was fun to hear the volunteers interact with the students,” Partnership Development Director Nicole Everingham said. “I also think we broke a few eardrums with the haunted house and the screaming,” she added. At the end of the evening, students roasted hot dogs over a campfire and ate s’mores, many of them for the first time.



More than 95% of the over 500 students in the Partnership’s mentoring program qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator that places these students near or below the federal poverty line. Students below the poverty line are six times more likely to drop out of school than their peers. The dropout rate in the Omaha Public School district is currently above 30%. By taking a targeted approach focusing on life skills, career exploration, graduation and college access, the mentoring program has worked with students for over 20 years, with more than 85% of students graduation and more than 90% of graduates going on to college or trade school.

The Partnership For Our kids is currently looking for 90 new mentors to work with teams of four students in a classroom setting twice a month between 3pm-5pm. Each meeting is facilitated by two staff members who plan lessons, provide student snacks and arrange student transportation. Other volunteers and their small groups are also present in the meetings. For more information on volunteering, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org.