TAMPA, Fla. — Chess is not a game of chance, nor is a new friendship budding between Adrian Brown and Geindrianis “GG” Quinones. 

“As I am setting up the board, tell me what you know about chess,” said Brown. 

GG is 10 years old. The pair are among the first matched in the new Guiding Stars Mentorship Program through the Children’s Home Network. 

What You Need To Know

Guiding Stars helps special needs kids develop social skills and make friends with the help of adult mentors specially matched to their needs and personality.

Mentors must pass a level two background check, specialized training, and meet the children’s families for regular check-ins, before meeting up with the kids one-on-one, or with other kids and mentors to help their matched child make friends. 

To sign up, kids need to be between kindergarten and 8th grade and face a developmental challenge. 

Children’s Home Network is asking community organizations and businesses for ideas for fun activities for mentors and mentees. You can share those ideas with the Guiding Stars team by emailing: guidingstarsreferral@childrenshomenetwork.org 

“I really love her so much. She treats me like a good friend,” said Quinones. 

“I feel rejuvenated, you know, like I said, being around kids, bring out the kid in you,” said Brown, a new mentor. 

Brown worked in the Hillsborough County School System for 35 years and did private tutoring before retiring. 

“Felt like I was still viable,” she laughs. “I wanted to get out there and be active. And I was looking for some things to do.”

She signed up to be a mentor and was paired with Quinones to help her with her ADHD. Quinones also recently started a new school and had been feeling anxious about the new start. 

“I’m like, so excited, excited, excited to have new friends. I have four friends,” she said.

“They’re a perfect match,” said Jennifer Navarro, Program Manager, Children’s Home Network. 

Navarro said that to sign up, kids need to be between kindergarten and 8th grade, and face a developmental challenge. 

“We mentor our children who have varying abilities. So that could be a physical disability. It could be autism or autism related disorders as well as any social or emotional delay,” said Navarro. 

For a few weeks now, Brown and Quinones have been meeting, and already, Quinones has shown more confidence and focus. 

The program is free for families and is funded through the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. 

Guiding Stars needs more kids and mentors to sign up for its 12-month program.