Heart Math Tutoring Launches Funding Initiative to Double School Partners
February 24, 2016
Heart Math Tutoring (Heart) – a nonprofit group dedicated to helping students in high-poverty concentration schools develop math skills and academic confidence – has launched a funding initiative to double its school partners for the 2016/17 school year.
The organization’s goal is to raise $750,000 by June 30, 2016 to expand its service and support 750 students and 860 volunteer tutors across 15 schools in 2016/17. To date, $335,000 has been raised from grants, corporation donations and from community support. Several local and state-wide foundations have made commitments to Heart at the “School Sponsorship” level ($25K – $50K): the Belk Foundation, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and Social Venture Partners. Around $125,000 has been received from individual donors.
“We greatly appreciate the financial support received to date and are excited about our spring funding initiative, knowing it will enable us to bring the program to even more students this coming school year,” said Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring. “We have a track record of growing fast and consistently, retaining and keeping volunteers, and generating strong student outcomes. As Heart grows, so must our family of funding partners.”
Heart is a math intervention program that recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work as tutors in high-poverty elementary schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Sixty percent of economically disadvantaged students in CMS perform below grade level in math. Heart uses research-based assessments and provides volunteer-friendly lesson plans that target the gaps of each individual student. To date, 97% of students tutored by Heart have met program growth goals set in partnership with CMS. Just last year, students tutored by Heart volunteers collectively closed gaps in 633 math skills proven to be critical building blocks for success.
Since 2013/14, Heart has grown from serving 105 students in two schools to now serving more than 400 students across eight school sites. Because Heart was 112% above its 2015/16 volunteer recruitment goal, the organization was able to add 20 students at an eighth school (Pinewood Elementary School) last fall. There are currently 450 volunteer tutors who spend one hour each week delivering Heart’s research-based, structured curriculum.
Adds Elliott, “We believe volunteers can be a powerful instructional resource when given adequate tools and support, which is why we want to expand our services and double our school partners this coming school year. We invite the community to join our fundraising effort to ensure all students build the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success.”
According to Heart, it costs $50,000 to fully fund a school site where 50-80 students receive one-on-one instruction for 30 minutes twice a week from September thru May. The cost for a new school partner includes: an on-site coordinator, tutoring supplies, volunteer recruitment, assessments and data analysis.
To make a donation to Heart’s 2016 spring funding initiative, contact executive director Emily Elliott, eelliott@hearttutoring.org or 980-292-2297. No amount is too small. Heart accepts individual donations and sponsorships from corporations and foundations.
Heart Math Tutoring
Heart Math Tutoring is a Charlotte-based nonprofit with a mission to ensure that all elementary students develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success, by helping schools use volunteers as tutors. Community members commit one hour per week to deliver an effective, hands-on curriculum through one-on-one tutoring sessions during the school day in Title I elementary schools. For more information, visit http://heartmathtutoring.org.
Goal is to fund 15 CMS school sites in 2016/17 school year
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CONTACT:
Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell
Emily Elliott – Heart Math Tutoring – 980-292-2297