NBC News Showcases Effects of Mentoring Young Children.

Virginia Beach, VA, December 30, 2005—Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes, co-founders of The Sykes Group, were featured as mentors of young leaders on the NBC News program aired on November 30, 2005, December 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes were featured on the WAVY-TV 10 (NBC affiliate) program, Wednesday’s Child, for their volunteer work mentoring the community’s young to become leaders. The program, hosted by WAVY-TV 10 news personality, Don Roberts, ran a series called “Where in the World is Wednesday’s Child” seeking to find out what happened to children in challenging situations mentored by Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes during 1996. Don Roberts featured Ciara the young child mentored by Joy. Ciara now nineteen years old, is an art teacher in a local school and is preparing to go to college for law.

“It is rewarding to see that you can make a difference in a young person’s life,” Joy told Mr. Roberts. “When you have the opportunity to work with a young person going through challenging times, you can set them on a positive course by showing them they have options, they are special, and they can rise above that difficult situation they are experiencing.” “Many people ask me what you can do with just one hour per week?” said Ed Sykes. “Well, you can do a lot by giving a young person dedicated time that they might not receive at home or in school. All you need to do is ask the questions that other people don’t have the time to ask them. Also show them that there are always positive solutions for positive outcomes.”

Even with their busy travel schedule, Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes continue to volunteer their time to teach children leadership, team building, and communication skills through the Toastmasters Young Leadership program. They work with local schools to assist children in learning to become future leaders.