Mentors are the heart of the Knights of Pythagoras Mentoring Network – men supporting one boy in his journey to become a leader among men. It's a big commitment, but with lots of rewards. Mentors listen to, nurture, and encourage the boys. Each mentor is asked to spend an average of three hours per month meeting one-on-one with his Knight, contact him at least weekly by phone, in person or by mail. They may go hiking, fishing, to a movie, etc.

The mentors represent a cross-section of the population and come from all walks of life. They include law enforcement officers, college students, senior citizens, military persons, business leaders, lawyers, government employees, and teachers.

The executive director screens volunteers carefully then match them with boys in need of a mentor.

Mentors are carefully trained and prepared before they are matched with any boy. There are safeguards such as regularly scheduled contacts with the mentor, the boy and the family or guardians to ensure the success of the match.

In approximately 60 percent of the matches, the Knights demonstrated successful, positive relationships between themselves and the caring adult volunteers in the program. Knights may remain with their mentors for up to two years as research shows that it is the duration of the mentoring and not necessarily the frequency of visitations or contacts with youth that makes the difference in behavior change.