BOSTON, MA, August 13, 2020 — As part of its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards program, the Boston Business Journal named the partnership between EVkids and J2 Interactive as one of its 2020 Corporate/Nonprofit “Partners of the Year.”
Founded in 1980, EVkids helps low-income, academically vulnerable children and teens succeed in school and life through its two programs, EVkids Tutoring and EVkids Summer Camp. These programs focus on strengthening academic competence, organizational habits, self-confidence, and other life skills.
EVkids Tutoring provides 1-on-1 academic mentoring for children in grades 4 – 12. College students from Boston College, Harvard, Northeastern, Tufts, and other Boston-area schools provide the tutoring, each maintaining their role for many years and forming personal, multi-year relationships with their students. In addition, professional staff closely support the tutoring pairs, providing family engagement and school advocacy to ensure that each child is getting what he or she needs. During high school, the EVkids College Success Project ensures these first-generation college attendees get all the support they need as they select, apply to, figure out how to pay for, and enroll in college. Once they are in college, EVkids continues to support a mentoring relationship to help them earn their degree.
EVkids Summer Camp inspires in campers a sense of self, a sense of community, and a sense of the world around them through family-style community living in the Green Mountains of Vermont. With a 2-to-1 camper to staff ratio, campers receive necessary support while building character, community, and sportsmanship by participating in structured camp activities. To ensure the health and safety of their campers during the COVID-19 pandemic, EVkids Summer Camp 2020 has gone virtual. Even online, they maintain their 2-to-1 camper to staff ratio as children make crafts, play songs, and share their personal experiences from the safety of their homes.
By building a caring community of support where success thrives as everyone works together, EVkids believes that the kids and tutors will become integral parts of a more socially just and compassionate world. J2 is proud to support the organization through board service, annual giving, and the development of program management and tutor recruiting software on the Salesforce platform.
“EVkids supports youth no matter what challenge life throws at them, and we continue for years and years,” Executive Director Eric Thompson said. “J2 is exactly that kind of partner, responding to every call to action with enthusiasm and generosity.”
We strongly encourage you to check out the EVkids website for more information on how the EVkids team is doubling their efforts to help each child reach his or her fullest potential and build an inclusive community based on mutual respect and understanding. Especially during this difficult time, any donations will make a huge difference.
