Bob Fisher joined Compeer in May 2008, and is currently matched as a volunteer in both the Compeer for Kids and Compeer for Adults programs.

As a volunteer for Compeer's Adult Services, Bob has been a stable, consistent presence, available to help his eighteen-year old friend Raheem transition to apartment living from a group home, where he struggled with his mental illness.  Bob encouraged Raheem to make healthy choices, and even to stay in school in order to earn his high-school diploma.

Bob is also an Across Ages mentor for eleven-year old Cameron in the Compeer for Kids program.  Cameron lives with his grandmother and his dad struggles with a physical disability while his mom is not allowed contact because she is in and out of jail.  Bob and Cameron both live in Springville, and have fun exploring sites all over Western New York, such as taking care of the horses at High Hurdles, sitting in cars at the Auto Show, attending model train exhibits, visiting the Fireman's Museum in Lovejoy, and visiting the animals at the SPCA.  Bob even brought Cameron to Build-A-Bear last November, his first trip to the Galleria Mall.

Bob Fisher is practical and prudent, ambitious and disciplined, patient and careful, humorous and reserved, generous, modest, consistent, and fun.  We are delighted to count him among Compeer's family of friends. 

Twenty-eight year old Chigbo Ilogu has been a volunteer in the Compeer for Kids Program since January 2001. He has been matched with a young man named Aaron since he was seven years old.  When Chigbo and Aaron were first matched, Aaron was enrolled at a therapeutic pre-school where he was labeled as emotionally disturbed.

Over the years Chigbo has developed a deep friendship with Aaron and his family, helping him manage his behaviors and taking him to Compeer sponsored events, arcades, movies, dinners, and hockey games.  Although Aaron is now a busy high school student, he still wants to hang out and talk with his mentor. Since Aaron and Chigbo are both busy, they spend a lot of time talking on the phone or chatting on Facebook. Through it all, Chigbo has encouraged Aaron to maintain good grades and has been positive role model that Aaron can look up to.

Chigbo has shown Aaron, not only through his words, but also through his actions, what it means to be a friend, student, son, employee, and a productive citizen.

Doris has volunteered for more than three years at Compeer, regularly and consistently providing a friendly voice for more than ten seniors with weekly and daily phone calls.  Doris is a warm, giving person who never says no when she is asked to take on one more lonely senior who needs a friendly voice to chat with.  Doris has a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful laugh, which brightens the day of so many, including the Compeer Staff.  She has been an advocate for several of her friends as well as a "Mom" to those who need a shoulder to cry on, or a loving ear to listen.

Kathy is an educator, mentor, community leader, program developer, and fundraiser.  She co-founded the first peer operated mental health program in Erie County, Action for Mental Health, and also created a model program to employ peer advocates, Recipients Associate Managers Program at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.  Kathy also founded Healthy Alternatives through Healing Arts (HA-HA), which has coordinated health and wellness conferences for recipients and providers for the past nine years.

Kathy's professional life has included many areas in the mental health field. She has been a consultant to the Erie County Mental Health Association, where she developed and implemented peer support and advocacy trainings.  The NYS Office of Mental Health also asked Kathy to serve on the regional planning advisory committee; a group that identifies and plans for the mental health needs of individuals living in a nineteen county area.  Kathy served as Mental Health Systems Advocate through the WNY Independent Living Center where she was an accomplished advocate and successfully obtained grants to develop peer mental health programs at the Center.  For the past fourteen years, Kathy has served as the Recipient Affairs Specialist for the NYS Office of Mental Health.

Kristin came on board as a volunteer for Compeer in 2007 and after her first match ended she decided to be matched again.  That is when she met Kim.  Kristin and Kim have been friends since August 2008 and they have a solid and strong friendship.  Both have bonded over their mutual love of animals and Kristin often helps Kim with the dog she fosters from the SPCA.  Kristin obtained a degree in Fashion Merchandising from Buffalo State College and soon realized that wasn't what she wanted to do.  She has since gone back to school and will be graduating this May with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and hopes to attend graduate school at the University at Buffalo.  Kristin has found that her true calling is working with people and helping them.

In addition to being a mentor with Compeer, Kristin also volunteers with Planned Parenthood and the Buffalo Animal Shelter.