The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket was recently named a premier member of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, an umbrella organization for the state’s mentoring programs.

Premier member is the organization’s highest designation, and the club is one of eight of 70 organizations to receive it.

The standing recognizes a mentoring program’s adherence to the partnership’s newly implemented quality-standards membership program, which was instituted to make it easier for prospective mentors and the public to find a program that meets or exceeds expectations.

The expectations are based on benchmarks ranging from strength of the program’s method of volunteer screening to its ability to support and retain mentors after being matched.

“So many children in our communities can benefit from having a mentor,” said Jo-Ann Schofield, president and CEO of partnership. “By implementing quality-standards membership, RIMP now has the ability to identify programs, such as that of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, which will go above and beyond the call of duty to provide a top-notch mentoring experience for the children they serve.”

During the last two years, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has served 33 adult mentors and 92 youth participants. •