BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION'S POWER LUNCH PROGRAM
| "The best part about Power Lunch was getting to know Alex and building a relationship with him. Over time, he became more comfortable reading and by the end of the program he was reading entire books out loud and encouraging other students in the classroom to do the same." --Power Lunch volunteer Boston Partners in Education's Power Lunch Program has been running in Boston since 1995. Power Lunch pairs volunteer mentors from Boston-area companies with students in grades one through three. Volunteers work with students one-on-one to encourage children's interest in reading and enthusiasm for literacy by reading aloud and engaging in conversation. Volunteers meet with their assigned students on a weekly basis throughout the school year during students' lunchtimes. What is the impact of the program on students? Teachers who have students in the program report a number of benefits. They notice improvements in attendance, eye contact, interaction with peers, self-esteem, behavior, and academic performance. Teachers also note increases in communication, enthusiasm for reading, and overall self-confidence as students and learners. Where do the volunteers come from and what is their role? Volunteers for Power Lunch come from corporate partners throughout the Greater Boston area. Their participation is endorsed by their employer. Seventeen area corporations currently participate in Power Lunch, including Bingham McCutchen, Citizens Bank, Genzyme, JP Morgan Chase, and State Street Corporation. These academic mentors provide guidance and encouragement to students with whom they are matched. Mentors in the Power Lunch Program are not expected to teach their students to read; they are role models who encourage an enthusiasm for books and reading. All volunteers are screened according to the guidelines created by Boston Partners in Education for the Boston Public Schools. Volunteers are interviewed and must complete training in literacy mentoring. A background criminal check (CORI) must also be conducted annually for all volunteers. Who are our Corporate Partners? Our corporate partners provide the dedicated volunteers and financial resources needed to make the Power Lunch Program a success. Boston Partners in Education only recruits volunteers from organizations that endorse employee participation and authorize financial support. Corporate partners offer their employees a rewarding volunteer opportunity without incurring any administrative burden, and provide a valuable service to the community. Our corporate partners contribute $275 per volunteer to help cover the costs of program operation. Click here to view a list of our current Power Lunch corporate partners. To learn more about Boston Partners in Education's Power Lunch Program, please contact: Hillary Chazen, Recruitment & School Volunteer Program Manager 617.451.6145 hchazen@bostonpartners.org | ||||||||||||
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