VIP MENTORS: Partners In Success ® since 1972

About VIP Mentors

VIP was founded in response to a challenge by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, asking attorneys to dedicate some portion of their time and special skills to helping the criminal justice system become "something more than a revolving-door." Initially a community service program of the State Bar of California, VIP became a separate nonprofit in 1991. VIP changed its corporate name from Volunteers In Parole, Inc. to VIP Mentors in 2005. The VIP mission combines the humanitarian goal of salvaging human lives with the social and economic benefits of building better and safer communities.

Our Mission: Service to the Community
The key component of VIP is the one-on-one relationship with a mentor. Volunteer attorney mentors check in with their parolees every week and spend between three to five hours a month on activities that range from cultural and educational to sports or just hanging out. They offer friendship as well as practical advice. Most important, they serve as someone with whom parolees can share success, analyze setbacks, learn how to cope with crisis, and expand horizons. Mentors do not lend money or provide legal representation.

 To support mentors and matches, VIP provides:

• Confidence-building activities such as opportunities for mentees to speak to civic groups, classes, pre-parole groups in prisons, and youthful delinquents.
  
  
• Social and educational activities for mentors, mentees, parole agents, families and significant others. Picnics, bowling parties, excursions to sports events or plays demonstrate healthy forms of recreation and build trust.
  
  
• Targeting Obstacles to Personal Success (TOPS) Scholarships. VIP raises funds for small financial stipends and scholarships that remove obstacles, resolve crises and give support during emergencies. Examples include college fees and textbooks, vocational tools, tattoo removal, rent supplements and repairing the car relied on to get to work.
  
  
• Annual recognition events where attorneys, judges, mentees, criminal justice personnel and civic leaders gather to honor the year's most successful mentees, mentors and mentorships.