Governor's office presents funding to mentoring center

Franklin’s Save Our Children Mentoring Program received a check Friday from the office of Governor John Bell Edwards in the amount of $18,500 to assist with the operating costs and enrichment of the “Dream What YOU See” fall program at the center.
The money awarded to the program was originally to be used for an abstinence program, but was re-appropriated to SOC, as it was deemed more useful there.
Sarah Parker, representating the governor’s office, said that SOC is precisely the type of organization that the governor and his wife had in mind when they decided that they wanted to do more for statewide mentoring programs.
There had been in place, through several gubernatorial administrations past, an abstinence program aimed at teaching the youth of the state the value of abstaining from underage sexual activity. However, the current administration has cultivated a new program, in place of the abstinence program. The new program is called the Louisiana Youth for Excellence program, and offers a more “holistic approach” to teaching children to make healthy choices.
State Representative Sam Jones said of SOC, “Big things can come from small ideas. You just have to stay committed to your vision and you have to stay focused.
“I am so pleased that we are back in the business of kids, again. Because, it seemed like we had gotten out of it. When there is something constructive, with vision, for kids to do, then the Devil, who is sitting on that corner, and who is always working… we give him hell.”