January 8, 2015
Several fundholders at the Community Foundation have supported or expressed interest in supporting the Morristown Neighborhood House Tutoring and Mentoring Program, managed by Cornerstone Family Programs.
The Neighborhood House Tutoring and Mentoring Program provides economic opportunities and mentoring to encourage students to finish high school and continue their education in a two to four-year college program or comparable vocational program.
High achieving low-income high school students are hired by the Morristown Neighborhood House (MNH) during the school year to act as tutors and mentors for elementary students in the MNH after-school programs. During the summer, students are placed in paid internships with local businesses. Students receive mentoring from staff and volunteers to develop good work habits and to navigate the complex college application and financial aid process. Salaries of the students employed by the Morristown Neighborhood House are funded by donations from the local businesses that then hire the students in the summer. These funds are supplemented by individual donations and grants.
The Spring and Summer 2014 Neighborhood House Tutoring and Mentoring Program supported six high school tutors who worked with and mentored over 50 in-need elementary school students. Over the summer, the six tutors were placed with local businesses and organizations ranging from the Community Foundation of New Jersey to Doug Gaffney Real Estate, the Memorial Hospital Foundation, NK Architects, Normandy Real Estate Investments, Villa Enterprises, and WCGM Appraisers.
For 2015, the program seeks to employ another six tutors who will work an average of ten hours per week for ten dollars per hour. This will require $100 per week per tutor for 18 weeks. Cornerstone seeks the support of Community Foundation fundholders to raise $1,800 per tutor.
If you would like to contribute to this important program and help them reach their fundraising goal – or with questions or for more information – please contact Nancy Hamilton Magee at 973-267-5533 x240.