The Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) is one of 140 local organizations, out of a pool of 580 competitive applicants, to receive a grant of $100,000 through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.
This grant will support of the Boston Public Library’s Homework Assistance Program, one of the Library’s longest-running and most beloved youth engagement programs. Teen Mentors, high-achieving 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, offer after-school homework help, mentorship, and activities for students in grades K-8 at 17 BPL branches throughout the city of Boston and virtually as well.
As one of the only no-cost, accessible options for out-of-school-time academic support in Boston, the Homework Assistance Program has become an essential resource for families. Students can attend sessions for extra guidance on assignments covering any subject, from science to humanities.
Teen Mentors are fluent in both English and other languages spoken in the local communities they serve, including Spanish, Mandarin, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Arabic, Cantonese, and Korean.
Funding from Cummings Foundation will support the operations of the program, including the salaries for Teen Mentors. “The BPL is dedicated to helping students across the city succeed both academically and personally, said Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund. “We are grateful to Cummings Foundation for recognizing that this program goes beyond tutoring to creating greater opportunities accessible to all – free to all.”
