Overview
The Marshall Mentor Program helps youth understand the importance of empathy, strength, courage, perseverance, kindness, and forgiveness and challenges them to put these traits into action. The program utilizes high school teen mentors to deliver Marshall the Miracle Dog's cornerstone messages. By supporting their younger peers, the mentors are developing as future leaders in their communities.
Mentors will develop and strengthen their leadership skills through mentor training and program implementation as they assist younger peers in developing an understanding of the five cornerstones of the Marshall Mentor Program.
Mentors are likely to experience other positive developmental outcomes as a result of delivering the Marshall Mentor Program to younger peers. They are likely to demonstrate growth in important career- related life skills such as:
| Leadership | Problem Solving | Goal Setting |
| Team Building | Public Speaking | Responsibility |
| Role Modeling | Self-confidence | Tolerance |
| Achievement | Sense of contributing | New relationships |
Curriculum and educational materials for the Marshall Mentor Program can be found at the 4-H mall.
Take a peek at how Marshall the Miracle Dog is teaming up with 4-H!
Marshall the Miracle Dog's Story
Marshall the Miracle Dog was found in 2010 while being filmed by Animal Planet's Confessions: Animal Hoarding. More than 60 dogs were found living on the grounds of an abandoned property. At the time of his rescue, Marshall was in the worst shape of all – he had been attacked by other dogs (most likely over a lack of food), resulting in bite marks all over his body, a broken front leg, and a hole the size of a tennis ball on the side of his face.
The Humane Society of Missouri immediately came to all of the dogs' rescue. Because Marshall was so badly injured, he could not be put up for adoption right away. During his surgery, Marshall died on the operating table but was resuscitated by Dr. Schwartz. The doctor and his medical team sewed up Marshall's face and amputated his badly infected front leg.
After a few months, Marshall was ready to be adopted, and he went to his Forever Home with Cyndi Willenbrock. Now, Marshall knows he has a job to do – and that job is to give back. Marshall and Cyndi have visited more than 200,000 students in over 550 schools across the country to share his story of courage and the will to overcome abuse and neglect. Marshall has inspired a children's book, an educational curriculum, a Girl Scout patch, and now a feature film.