Corporate Volunteers Program

The Corporate Volunteers Program was created in 1999 through a collaborative partnership with the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The current corporate sponsor of the program is Kaplan Early Learning Company.

The objective of the program is to improve the performance of specifically identified students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, so that each tutored child will be at or above the expected proficiency level by the end of the school year. Originally conceived for students who entered school lacking the general readiness skills needed for early school success, the program was designed as one-on-one intervention to help students reach grade-level proficiency. To help reduce the risk of falling further behind and widening the achievement gap, students are paired with business and community volunteers who provide critical one-on-one time working on school readiness skills.

Kindergarten students in 16 elementary schools where at least 75% of students receive free or reduced-priced lunches are paired with business and community volunteers who spend an hour each week working with their student on cognitive and language skills.

Materials used by volunteers in the program are "volunteer friendly" with training and orientation provided by the Chamber and each school. Volunteers are surveyed at the end of each school year to provide program feedback.

Volunteers are encouraged to tutor a kindergarten student and some volunteers are asked to "move up" and continue with their student to the next grade level.

During the 2011-12 school year, more than 50 businesses and organizations were involved. Year-end results collected for 305 K-2nd grade students served by the program reported that 61 percent needed intensive intervention at the beginning of the school year; by year's end, 30 percent needed intensive intervention and 70 percent had improved and needed moderate intervention or were on grade level. To sign up your organization, or to participate as an individual, contact Jennifer Cobb at 336-728-9219, or jcobb@winstonsalem.com

The Corporate Volunteers Program promotes positive mentoring relationships, community involvement and development, and celebrates diversity by crossing racial, social, and economic boundaries.