Get Involved-Spotlight: 1 Hour For Kids
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Growing up, most of us had someone who made all the difference in our lives. Maybe it was a parent or grandparent. A teacher. A friend. An adult who understood you and cared about you. As you were growing up, that person was someone you could look up to.
Today in our community, too many kids are still waiting to meet someone who’ll make the difference in their lives.
That’s why United Way Capital Area is launching a new initiative called 1 Hour For Kids. This initiative brings together eight nonprofits that specialize in providing mentors and tutors to vulnerable youth. These eight organizations work with kids in different ways, but all of their programs have shown the positive effect of connecting youth to supportive adults.
FOUR HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS. FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
1 Hour For Kids seeks to recruit 400 new volunteers, specifically for middle school students.
Why focus on middle school students?
Middle school is a critical juncture in any student’s life. During middle school, kids are going through major life and academic changes. Gaps in educational achievement increase rapidly. The middle school years are exactly when we need to be there to help. Yet adults tend to volunteer heavily with elementary school students, while the number of volunteers drops sharply for middle school.
How much of a difference can we make for our middle school students?
Right now in Central Texas, 1 out of 4 students entering 9th grade do not graduate from high school. But research shows that middle school students with at least one supportive adult in their lives are almost twice as likely to graduate as those who do not.
HELP A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT HANG IN THERE AND GRADUATE. (YOU CAN EVEN HAVE FUN DOING IT.)
Help middle school students with academic subjects, or just be a positive role model. You can meet in one-to-one or group settings. Whatever you choose, our middle school students will be very happy to meet you.
One hour a week is not a lot of time, really. But it can change the world for those students.
Many 1 Hour For Kids volunteers have busy schedules; their calendars are filled with significant projects. But most feel that the hour they spend volunteering to help a child is the most important hour they spend all week.Learn more about how you can be connected to the most rewarding volunteer experience of your life at: 1HourForKids.org.
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT 1 HOUR FOR KIDS?
1 Hour For Kids is a true collaborative, convened and led by United Way Capital Area and supported by the Austin Independent School District, the Manor Independent School District, the E3 Alliance and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. (Our eight nonprofit partners are listed below.)
For the first time ever, United Way will collect objective results that are measured consistently across programs, and aligned with the regional strategic plan known as The Blueprint for Educational Change.
IT’S NO SECRET THAT WE ACCOMPLISH MORE BY WORKING TOGETHER. WON’T YOU JOIN US?
1 HOUR FOR KIDS PARTNERS:
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Breakthrough
Communities In Schools-Central Texas
Con Mi MADRE
Girl Scouts
Manor ISD Project Mentor
River City Youth Foundation
The Seedling Foundation
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