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Fleishhacker Foundation Donates $10,0000 to Improve In-school and At-home Literacy Instruction

By Chelsea Boniak
May 18, 2023

Generous Grant Empowers Students Through Additional Literacy Instruction and Tools In Scholl and At Home

We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Fleishhacker Foundation and the profound impact they are making in the lives of eager children.

Children Rising is pleased to once again be the recipient of a generous grant from the Fleishhacker Foundation. The $10,000 grant marks the 14th year of support from the Fleishhacker Foundation to support Children Rising’s one-on-one reading tutoring program, Succeeding by Reading.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Fleishhacker Foundation and the profound impact they are making in the lives of eager children in the East Bay.

COVID-19 Recovery: High-Intensity Interventional Reading Tutoring

Your support of Succeeding by Reading, and that of foundations and community partners, puts the smile of learning on the faces of eager young children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in devastating unfinished learning for many Oakland students, especially Black and Latino students. Seventy-four percent (74%) of third-grade children attending the 14 Title 1 schools Children Rising served last year were two or more grade levels behind in their foundational reading skills 90% of those children were Black or Latino.

“Right now, there is a substantially higher risk that many more children in the years ahead will fail in middle school and high school, deepening the social injustice within our community,” says Jim Wambach, executive director of Children Rising. “Without a concerted effort to provide additional support, many children will become discouraged as they miss out on crucial skills needed to become confident, active learners as they move into fourth grade, fifth grade, and middle school.”

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

Grant Supports High-dosage Tutoring and Family Empowerment

The Fleishhacker Education Grants Program supports Bay Area organizations providing direct K-5 literacy services to students from under-resourced local public schools. Funds from the grant will provide learning supplies and support the onboarding of volunteers in two critical programs during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Children Rising’s evidence-based Succeeding by Reading interventional tutoring program delivers high-dosage tutoring through volunteer tutors to children in Oakland’s most underserved communities at no cost to their families. Children Rising recruits, trains, and supports more than 140 volunteer tutors, including 80 new tutors this school year. One caring adult can make a difference in a child’s life by providing one-on-one math tutoring for a young girl or boy. Funds from the Fleishhacker Foundation provide training, materials, and onboarding for new tutors.

Through the grant, Children Rising will enhance programming to provide higher dosage levels of tutoring to each child in Succeeding by Reading while enabling parents and guardians to provide more confident and enhanced academic support at home.

To complement Succeeding by Reading and accelerate learning, we developed FamilyBridge, an all-new program expanding the educational tools, training, and support for parents and guardians in the program. This is a natural extension of our ability to fill a vital learning gap that is widely acknowledged among educators. Funds from the Fleishhacker Foundation provide home-learning materials for families in the program.

Grants from foundations and gifts from you have enabled us to develop FamilyBridge. This all-new program expands the educational tools, training, and support for parents and guardians in the program.

Through the grant, Children Rising will enhance programming to provide higher dosage levels of tutoring to each child in Succeeding by Reading while enabling parents and guardians to provide more confident and enhanced academic support at home. The result of this enhanced learning approach will allow young elementary school students to prepare for more advanced learning in fifth grade, middle school, and beyond, giving them a much more equitable chance of success throughout their school years.

By strengthening the team supporting these amazing children of Oakland—parents, teachers, and tutors—many more children will become active, confident learners and thrive in school instead of dropping out.

Thanks to the Fleishhacker Foundation. We are grateful to once again be part of the Education Grants Program and to work together to empower children and families in our community.

It’s not too late for YOU to be a tutor. Volunteer today, and you will give a child the one-on-one care they need to rise to their God-given potential.

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if in-school tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

Hope for Children Now Shined a Light on the Children

By Chelsea Boniak
May 17, 2023

Thank you for a heartwarming celebration

Thank you for making Hope for Children Now a heartwarming celebration of the children in our community schools!

Thank you for making Hope for Children Now a heartwarming celebration of the children in our community schools! A gala just isn’t a celebration without the joy and love each and every one of you brings to the evening. We are grateful and hope that you enjoyed the evening. We certainly did!

Check out all the photos!

You helped us shine a light on the hard work and tremendous progress the kids in our programs have made over the year. How could you feel anything but pride for “Team Al-Bara” and “Team Bridget” as they took the stage with their families, teachers, and tutors? Those young kids stole the show, and quite a few hearts!

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

You embraced keynote speaker L.K. Monroe’s passionate plea for “justice to prevail” in our schools and our community.

You embraced keynote speaker L.K. Monroe’s passionate plea for “justice to prevail” in our schools and our community. Indeed, sustainable change is critical to the long-term success of children in our community schools.

“How could you feel anything but pride for “Team Al-Bara” and “Team Bridget” as they took the stage with their families, teachers, and tutors? Those young kids stole the show and quite a few hearts!”

Thanks to you, we raised over $165,000, by far the most we have ever raised at Hope for Children Now.

You also supported Children Rising programs through your generous gifts. Thanks to you, we raised over $165,000, by far the most we have ever raised at Hope for Children Now. Hope for Children Now is always more than just a fundraiser. However, your gifts are crucial to fulfilling the vision that a caring community reaches every struggling child at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

We are so incredibly grateful that you joined us to celebrate the children. We took loads of photos and hope you find a few in there that bring a smile to your face.

From the entire Children Rising family, thank you.

Check out all the photos!

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if in-school tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

Perspectives — Volunteers Empower Oakland’s Children to Succeed In School … and In Life

By Jim Wambach
May 16, 2023

Your Gifts Support the Critical Work of Our Tutors

Thanks to your gifts, the children in our programs receive the caring love and extra support they need to become lifelong learners and rise to their God-given potential.

It is said that volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. Every time you volunteer, you are casting a vote about the kind of community you want to live in.

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” — Winston Churchill

Volunteerism empowers individuals to find their purpose and often provides a new vocation in an outpouring of individual gifts that serves the greater good.

Caring members of our community are the beating heart of Children Rising.

Randy Roth’s vision was to create opportunities for people to step in and use their gifts to support eager children in Oakland’s lowest-income neighborhoods. The love and tireless dedication of our volunteers, those who help behind the scenes and those who show up week after week for the children, inspire and fuel our work.

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week in April, we are incredibly grateful to all of our amazing volunteers. Your stories show us the power we each have to positively impact the community and truly be a force of good here in Oakland and the East Bay.

“As we celebrate National Volunteer Week in April, we are incredibly grateful to all of our amazing volunteers.”

Unfortunately, we are facing an education crisis of huge proportions—one that sees only 30% of elementary school children of color achieving grade-level reading and math skills. These kids, their parents, and their teachers need all of us in the community now more than ever before.

The community has responded to this crisis!

More caring adults in the community have volunteered for reading and math tutoring this year than ever before, and we have exceeded our pre-COVID number of tutors. This is wonderful news! However, there are hundreds of children still waiting for a tutor.

You responded to this crisis—more caring adults in the community have volunteered for reading and math tutoring this year than ever before.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for providing the youngest members of our community a fair chance to succeed in school…and in life. You are an integral part of a community of supporters empowering children to become lifelong learners and rise to their God-given potential.

As a member of the Children Rising community, please encourage your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to consider volunteering their time to support many more children in the coming years. You will be giving them AND the children a special gift.

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if in-school tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

Joaquin Is Nearly Back to Grade-Level Reading

By Eric Steckel
May 8, 2023

Your Support Provided Twice a Week Tutoring to an Eager Kid!

Your support provides Joaquin a little extra support to get back to grade-level reading.

Not all children learn at the same pace. Sometimes it takes an eager kid a little extra time to catch on.

Joaquin* struggled with reading. He enrolled in Succeeding by Reading as a second-grader in 2021 and received a POWER Pack last Summer to continue working on his reading skills. Despite significant progress, he still wasn’t quite up to grade level in reading.

His mother, Reyna, struggles to support his efforts personally. “I don’t have time to help Jason during the week. On the weekend, I have time, but I’m unable to help him in English.”

A caring tutor supports grade-level reading

He re-enrolled this year and began working twice a week with long-time tutor Suzanne Bourque. Joaquin is eager to learn, and through Succeeding by Reading, his parents receive the support they need to ensure their son gets the added instruction he needs.

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

“Joaquin loves to read. The challenge has been keeping him within the limits of what he knows and gradually advancing to bigger and better words because he wants to keep going and just read, read, read,” Miss Suzanne shared.

“I keep coming back because I like relating to these little kids. I enjoy it, and I learn a lot from them.”

Joaquin returned for another year and is nearly back to grade-level reading. The continuum of learning was critical for him to master the basics of reading. “The nice thing about being one-on-one is that you can work on relating to the child and give all your energy to that one kid,” Suzanne said.

Your gifts supported twice a week tutoring for eager kids like Joaquin.

“I think it’s better this year because we’re doing two days a week, which I think is the smartest thing we’ve done,” Suzanne continued. “The nice thing about being one-on-one is that you can work on (relating to the child) and give all your energy to that one kid.”

Reyna is thrilled with Joaquin’s progress. “His father and I don’t have much time to dedicate to Joaquin, so this program has been very helpful.”

Your support ensured Bryanna and Joaquin received the care and attention they needed to get back to grade level in reading.

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if in-school tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.

Alayna Is Excelling In Math Thanks To You

By Eric Steckel
May 3, 2023

In-school Tutoring + At-home Support = Success In School … and Life

Your gifts provided Alayna with critical at-home learning and one-on-one in-school tutoring, enabling her to get back to grade level in math.

Alayna struggled with third-grade math. Her father, David Guillory, was surprised to learn this year that his eager, energetic, precocious daughter was below grade level.

Fortunately for Alayna, critical at-home learning and one-on-one in-school tutoring provided a continuum of support that closed the loop in her education.

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

One-on-one support at home and in school is critical

Alayna was referred to Path2Math by her teacher and paired with Audrey Amos, a retired elementary school principal who volunteers as a tutor. Miss Audrey found that Alayna did well once they established a one-on-one connection, and she picked up things quickly.

“Having a tutor that can sit down and spend that 45 minutes to an hour one-on-one with a student is immeasurable. It can just change a child’s life,” Audrey explained.

Alayna’s father was engaged and working with her at home. Knowing that he was involved and wanted her to do well in her education made a difference.

David was eager to participate in FamilyBridge at the beginning of the year. Tai Dillard, FamilyBridge program director, is in regular contact, keeping him informed of Alayna’s progress and how he can best support her learning in-home. The open line of communication is beneficial.

“Having a tutor that can sit down and spend that 45 minutes to an hour one-on-one with a student is immeasurable.”

Audrey highlighted the critical importance of the at-home connection through FamilyBridge. “Alayna’s father is engaged and working with her at home. Just knowing he was involved and wanted her to do well in her education made a difference.”

One-on-one in-school tutoring and at-home support from parents came at a critical time in Alayna’s learning and accelerated her academic progress. “Kids are so behind academically because of COVID…especially kids of color. This is the time when we need to step in to give them some extra help to catch up.”

Your gifts ensured families like David and Alayna received the critical support they needed.

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if in-school tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.

A Caring Adult Developed a New Vocation

By Eric Steckel
May 1, 2023

You Helped a Retired Nurse Reconnect With Her Love of Teaching

Thanks to you, Iyana has found a new vocation, Bryanna has a caring tutor, and two young girls are learning to read.

For first-year Succeeding by Reading volunteer tutor Iyana Amayani, an invitation from a neighbor was all it took. She was gardening one day last Summer when Henrietta Fabio, a Children Rising board member, invited her to tutor.

“I’d been retired from nursing since 2018, kind of doing nothing. It was good timing—I was just ready.” Teaching was always close to her heart, and she was ready for a new chapter.  “My energy’s still there. I’m still alive, I still have stuff to share. All that I have—my skills, my talent, I can still use it for the children.”

You can empower a child to build bridges of hope!

Our Vision is that every struggling child is reached by a caring community at a critical time in their life to nurture hope, the courage to dream, and the opportunity to thrive.

Become a tutor today

Relating with the kids

Miss Iyana took to the children immediately, forging caring, nurturing relationships with the two students she tutors twice a week. One student, Bryanna*, has an overabundance of “creative” energy. “I could relate because I still have it a bit if I sit too long. We just bonded right away because I understand.”

“My energy’s still there. I’m still alive, I still have stuff to share. All that I have—my skills, my talent, I can still use it for the children.”

Celebrating Bridget, dancing her way to moving to the yellow zone!

One day, she and Bryana did jumping jacks to help get the wiggles out. “I remember at training, Miss Rebecca said, ‘Don’t be afraid. Whatever the kids want, go with them.’”

Iyana is enthusiastic about her role and the progress she sees in her kids. “Just this week, Bryanna recognized patterns in reading a book, something that we had worked on before. As she was reading, she stopped, looked up at me, and proudly said, ‘A pattern!’ My mouth dropped.”

Bryanna has also begun to grasp phonemic awareness, part of SbR’s structured science of reading approach. “Now Bryanna will see a word like “my”—M-Y—and she’s using the phonics that I taught her.”

There’s also an element of legacy to the work Iyana does with her kids. “Because I don’t have my own children, I want to help leave something behind, doing some good for all the children. So they’re all my children!” She said, laughing.

Thanks to your gifts, Iyana has reconnected with her passion for teaching and developed a new vocation—and Bryana receives the extra support she needs to learn to read.

Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.