Some friendships start with a simple plan to explore the city. Mentor Rick and his young mentee were matched through Mercy Home's Friends First program in September 2025, and they've been on the go ever since.
The young mentee loves to learn, and Rick brings the enthusiasm, so the pair has visited museum after museum and attraction after attraction across Chicago. A few favorite moments so far:
First visit to the Bean
Touring the U-505 submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry
Listening to Christmas carols at the Lincoln Park Zoo while the mentee played along on a keyboard app
Riding home from the movies to "You've Got a Friend in Me," The mentee’s song pick
Next up: Rick is teaching his mentee to ride a bike. Rick has also started a new tradition, a "key question of the day" to kick off each outing. His mentee’s first one? "Mr. Rick, what is the meaning of life?"
Matches like this are why Chicago Foundlings Home supports Friends First. One caring adult, showing up consistently, can open up a whole city.
Story shared by Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Learn about becoming a mentor at mercyhome.org/friends-first-mentoring.