A small deposit of time being called an investment in the future.
Federal officials are meeting with members and staff of the Warren Boys and Girls Club in Atlanta to talk up the importance of mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
"If [at-risk youth] have a strong mentor in their life, it keeps them on the right path," said U.S. Assistance Attorney General Karol Mason.
Mason heads up the Office of Justice Programs that oversees numerous programs including juvenile justice.
"Kids who are exposed to violence, whether as victims, witnesses or perpetrators, find themselves on the wrong path," Mason told WSB Radio.
Last year the Atlanta club received more than $227,000 in federal grants to assist programs locally to provide mentoring programs and gang prevention services.
"Mentoring really does work," said Mason. "[The program] is really important in keeping kids out of the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems."