It started with a rash of violence.
"It was unreal to believe that we're having as many shootings as we are and these kids don't have any direction to look forward to," said Barb Fox.
In May, former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps developed the idea for the Stop Youth Violence Initiative.
"He really wanted to integrate South Bend schools, the police department, various religious affiliations around the community and several other components as well to help us come together and stop youth violence in this area," mentor coordinator, Phil Washington.
Part of that initiative was a mentoring program with South Bend Schools. Phil Washington's job is helping recruit those mentors.
"Our mentors are one of the components of this plan. Our mentors will actually go out into the schools," says Washington.
The goal was 500 mentors before school starts and right now there are just over 400 mentors for over 480 students.
"We could always use more mentors, we have a waiting list," says Washington.
One of those mentors is Barb Fox. She's been mentoring a child for 4 years, since moving to South Bend.
"I thought this was a great way to give back to the community, a community that has given so much to me in such a short amount of time. I think it's impacted me because I feel like I'm making a difference in her life. Every Wednesday when I show up, she seems so happy to see me. That's very rewarding for me," says Fox.
Organizers hope more mentors make the rewards even bigger for our community.
"We know this program is successful. The principals say so, the teachers say so, the social workers say so," says Phil.
If you're interested in becoming a mentor, contact Phil Washington at 574-283-8072.
