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Special Advertising Section | Sunday, March 23, 2025 27%u2022 In 2018, only 16% of Americans reported that they felt very attached to their local community.%u2022 Polls conducted in 2016 showed that roughly 30% of Americans felt they could reliably trust other Americans.%u2022 Chronic loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50% in older adults.The results constitute a trend that runs counter to all that is known about humankind. History and science show that people are innately social creatures, relying on one another for food and shelter, while also leaning on one another for social and emotional support.Social and emotional support is the foundation for mentoring programs that serve young people. Many programs attract young professionals as volunteer mentors, to serve as role models for a younger Recent years have seen an abundance of research into the epidemic of loneliness in American society. The Surgeon General in 2023 issued an 81-page advisory on isolation and the healing power of social connection.Key data points from the report include:%u2022 Adults across the globe rate their social relationships, particularly with family and close friends, as the most important source of meaning, purpose and motivation in their lives.Rally Club participants pose with some of the students they mentor at Eckstein Middle School in Seattle. (Courtesy of Rally Club)Continued on page 28!\