REBECCA COOPER is executive director of Friends for Youth, a non-profit organization that matches at-risk youths with adult volunteers for one-to-one friendships. A staff member for 14 years, she has established a strong local influence of Friends for Youth, convincing often-skeptical teachers, counselors, social workers and probation officers of the power of the new concept of mentoring. She has been involved with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and has served as the Board Secretary for the East Palo Alto Youth Development Center and as the California State Representative for International Association of Justice Volunteerism, Her awards include Chevron/The Management Center’s Award for Management Excellence in 1990; the Unsung Hero Award for work in child abuse prevention, presented by the San Mateo County Family and Child Abuse Advisory Committee; and a citation from the Presidential Volunteer Action Awards in 1993.
