Pizza, Purpose & Life Lessons

Volunteer mentor shares pizza and conversation with middle school students during a mentoring lunch at Ben Hill Middle School.

Meaningful mentorship can shape a student’s confidence, outlook, and future. At Ben Hill Middle School, volunteer mentors are helping students grow through honest conversations, encouragement, and shared experiences over pizza lunches twice each month. Through discussions about stress, bullying, goals, and life skills, these mentors are building trusted relationships that help students feel supported, inspired, and more confident both inside and outside the classroom.

We wrapped up another incredible year of mentoring at Ben Hill Middle School, where more than 100 students found inspiration, guidance, and a sense of belonging, thanks to the partnership of the JCC Men’s Club, Young Life, Jets Pizza, and the generous support of The Saunders Foundation. These dynamic mentors gather with students twice a month over pizza lunches to dive into meaningful conversations.

Topics like goal setting, managing stress, and handling bullying were on the menu, but the real impact came from the connections formed. One Ben Hill teacher shared, “The students who are the most engaged are the most successful in the classroom. This Mentor Group gives them the chance to be around men and women who model success, and it’s making a real difference in their growth.”