The TeamMates Mentoring Program of Lincoln works closely with community partners and counts on community support to achieve its mentor recruiting and fundraising goals.
Community partner HobbyTown provides paid time off to their employees for weekly mentoring. To further engage employees and enhance levels of interest in the program, the company often arranges TeamMates awareness days and encourages employees to meet as mentors to share best practices and experiences. The company provides polo shirts that it terms “the Blackshirts” to recognize its elite HobbyTown mentoring team. Mentors enjoy wearing these shirts on the days that they mentor and establishing a familiar presence in Lincoln public schools. HobbyTown also sponsors and sends mentors to the annual TeamMates Tailgate fundraiser.
HobbyTown began franchising in 1985 from a single hobby shop in Lincoln, where its national headquarters remains to serve and support the entire franchise. Today, there are more than 160 franchise stores and growing nationwide, making the company the leading retailer in the hobby and specialty toy industry. The HobbyTown National Convention has grown into the largest dealer trade show in the hobby industry and is held annually in Lincoln at the Embassy Suites Hotel.
TeamMates welcomes new partners and invites you and your business, service club or faith-based organization to get involved. To become engaged in the TeamMates Mentoring Program, visit www.lincolnteammates.org or call (402) 436-1990.