Mentor a Foster Teen. Make an Impact.

Oasis Grand Champions provide support, encouragement, and a dependable presence in a teen’s life through one-on-one mentorship.

Mentor a Foster Teen. Make an Impact.

Oasis Grand Champions provide support, encouragement, and a dependable presence in a teen’s life through one-on-one mentorship.

About the Program

In St. Louis City and County, hundreds of teens in foster care are looking for more than a safe place to stay — they’re looking for connection, encouragement, and someone who will stand by them. The Grand Champions program creates these lasting relationships by pairing caring adults with teens who can benefit from their support. Through one-on-one mentoring, Grand Champion volunteers help teens, ages 14+, develop life skills, build self-confidence, and discover a sense of belonging during a defining chapter of their lives. Grand Champions are required to participate in training prior to placement. Training dates for 2026 are January 8, March 12, May 14, July 7, September 10, and November 12.

About the Program

In St. Louis City and County, hundreds of teens in foster care are looking for more than a safe place to stay — they’re looking for connection, encouragement, and someone who will stand by them. The Grand Champions program creates these lasting relationships by pairing caring adults with teens who can benefit from their support. Through one-on-one mentoring, Grand Champion volunteers help teens, ages 14+, develop life skills, build self-confidence, and discover a sense of belonging during a defining chapter of their lives. Grand Champions are required to participate in training prior to placement. Training dates for 2026 are January 8, March 12, May 14, July 7, September 10, and November 12.

About the Program

In St. Louis City and County, hundreds of teens in foster care are looking for more than a safe place to stay — they’re looking for connection, encouragement, and someone who will stand by them. The Grand Champions program creates these lasting relationships by pairing caring adults with teens who can benefit from their support. Through one-on-one mentoring, Grand Champion volunteers help teens, ages 14+, develop life skills, build self-confidence, and discover a sense of belonging during a defining chapter of their lives. Grand Champions are required to participate in training prior to placement. Training dates for 2026 are January 8, March 12, May 14, July 7, September 10, and November 12.

What to Expect as a Volunteer

At Oasis, you’ll be fully supported from the moment you begin your mentoring journey. We make sure you feel prepared, confident, and encouraged every step of the way by providing comprehensive training, helpful materials, and ongoing guidance. Here’s what the experience looks like:

Meet with your designated teen for one hour each week in fun, activity-based sessions that build life skills and confidence.
Session times and locations are flexible, based on what works best for both you and your assigned teen.
Oasis provides all the training, support, and materials you’ll need to feel confident and prepared.
No experience required — just a caring heart and a desire to make a difference in a young person’s life.

Grand Champions must be able to set healthy boundaries, be consistent in meeting attendance with their mentee, and commit to at least nine months of service as a mentor. To become a Grand Champion, you will need to complete an application and background check as well as mandatory training sessions (8 – 16 hours). Training dates for 2026 are January 8, March 12, May 14, July 7, September 10, and November 12.

Please fill out the contact form to the right to get started.

Interested in learning more or signing up for a training? Fill out the form below or contact Oasis Chief Purpose Officer, Stephanie McCreary at (314) 687-1122 or [email protected].

What to Expect as a Volunteer

At Oasis, you’ll be fully supported from the moment you begin your mentoring journey. We make sure you feel prepared, confident, and encouraged every step of the way by providing comprehensive training, helpful materials, and ongoing guidance. Here’s what the experience looks like:

Meet with your designated teen for one hour each week in fun, activity-based sessions that build life skills and confidence.
Session times and locations are flexible, based on what works best for both you and your assigned teen.
Oasis provides all the training, support, and materials you’ll need to feel confident and prepared.
No experience required — just a caring heart and a desire to make a difference in a young person’s life.

Grand Champions must be able to set healthy boundaries, be consistent in meeting attendance with their mentee, and commit to at least nine months of service as a mentor. To become a Grand Champion, you will need to complete an application and background check as well as mandatory training sessions (8 – 16 hours). Training dates for 2026 are January 8, March 12, May 14, July 7, September 10, and November 12.

Please fill out the contact form to the right to get started.

Interested in learning more or signing up for a training? Fill out the form below or contact Oasis Chief Purpose Officer, Stephanie McCreary at (314) 687-1122 or [email protected].

Grand Champion Stories: Impact in Action

Working with my mentee has been such an eye-opening and heartwarming experience. I always feel so welcomed in their lovely home—the kind greetings from everyone as they walk by, the respect for our scheduled time together—it all fills me with joy.

Seeing how much my mentee trusts me enough to share openly means the world to me. When I see him walking down the street looking for my arrival, it tells me I’m appreciated and valued. He always greets me with the warmest, most respectful hug and asks how I’ve been—it makes me feel loved.

Our time together is full of fun and laughter—whether we’re painting or racing through word searches, something we both enjoy. I can see how he’s grown more confident and open through our time together.

- Stella Ashcraft, Grand Champion Volunteer

I wanted to be a Grand Champion because, during my own time of instability growing up, people would try to encourage me—but they didn’t really understand what it was like. I moved 19 times as a youth, living with families who took me in, and occasionally with my family of origin.

Working with my mentees has been humbling, deeply rewarding, and has made a meaningful impact not only on their lives, I hope, but on mine as well. I’m thankful for them and inspired by them every day.

- Julia Thompson, Grand Champion Volunteer

Working with my young lady has been such an awesome and rewarding experience. She is smart, mature, and incredibly sweet. She carries a lot of pain from past experiences of neglect and disappointment, and I feel so blessed to be able to lend a listening ear and serve as a sounding board for her.

We’ve built a genuine, trusting relationship and truly enjoy each other’s company. We’ve talked about her getting her first job and practiced mock interview skits together. We even created a beautiful affirmation board that now hangs in her bedroom.

The Oasis Program is a ministry to me and an incredible blessing to young people like my mentee.

- Rosemary Whitehead, Grand Champion Volunteer

There are many meaningful ways to support children and families impacted by foster care in our region. Click the button below to explore additional opportunities outside of Oasis.

View Foster Care Resources

Grand Champion Stories: Impact in Action

Working with my mentee has been such an eye-opening and heartwarming experience. I always feel so welcomed in their lovely home—the kind greetings from everyone as they walk by, the respect for our scheduled time together—it all fills me with joy.

Seeing how much my mentee trusts me enough to share openly means the world to me. When I see him walking down the street looking for my arrival, it tells me I’m appreciated and valued. He always greets me with the warmest, most respectful hug and asks how I’ve been—it makes me feel loved.

Our time together is full of fun and laughter—whether we’re painting or racing through word searches, something we both enjoy. I can see how he’s grown more confident and open through our time together.

- Stella Ashcraft, Grand Champion Volunteer

I wanted to be a Grand Champion because, during my own time of instability growing up, people would try to encourage me—but they didn’t really understand what it was like. I moved 19 times as a youth, living with families who took me in, and occasionally with my family of origin.

Working with my mentees has been humbling, deeply rewarding, and has made a meaningful impact not only on their lives, I hope, but on mine as well. I’m thankful for them and inspired by them every day.

- Julia Thompson, Grand Champion Volunteer

Working with my young lady has been such an awesome and rewarding experience. She is smart, mature, and incredibly sweet. She carries a lot of pain from past experiences of neglect and disappointment, and I feel so blessed to be able to lend a listening ear and serve as a sounding board for her.

We’ve built a genuine, trusting relationship and truly enjoy each other’s company. We’ve talked about her getting her first job and practiced mock interview skits together. We even created a beautiful affirmation board that now hangs in her bedroom.

The Oasis Program is a ministry to me and an incredible blessing to young people like my mentee.

- Rosemary Whitehead, Grand Champion Volunteer

There are many meaningful ways to support children and families impacted by foster care in our region. Click the button below to explore additional opportunities outside of Oasis.

View Foster Care Resources