The Help Us Grow, Foundation, Inc. (H.U.G.) strives to promote social equality and education for all students allowing them to achieve grade level reading by completion of third grade.
H.U.G. incorporates character development and confidence building components to help struggling readers become confident grade level readers, thus improving their life's trajectory.
Our Vision
To grow students into confident, resilient, successful, adults with good social skills and the ability to learn independently. Thereby:
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Raising the U.S. national 3rd-grade average reading level
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Enabling students to BE THE DIFFERENCE™ to themselves, their family, and their community
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Enhancing the employable workforce in the community through education
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Reducing the pipeline to prison
Supporting Our Students
Evidence-Based Model Creates More Resilient Students
H.U.G. uses curriculum with 30 years of research from the University of North Carolina and used nationwide for reading intervention.
1:1 Student-to-Tutor Ratio Builds Skills and Character
Our H.U.G. tutors help directly address this highly documented need faced by today's educators & future workforce.
Students and Tutors Reap Positive Benefits
Students show increased engagement and positive behavior, while tutors feel honored and values to share their wisdom.
Help us Be the Difference in a Student's Life Today!
Whether you're an individual, a church or community organization, or a company with workforce or HR goals in mind, there are so many benefits to supporting our mission by actually becoming a tutor or donating today.
Wendy McCarty, VP Operations, The Kroger Co. Louisville Division
I can already attest that what we gain from time with these young people far outweighs anything we give. As a leader of The Kroger Co., I am honored to combine Our Purpose with H.U.G.'s reading program to be difference makers together in our community.
We support H.U.G.'s goals of empowering young people while encouraging our Kroger volunteers to make a one-on-one difference. Both fit naturally into my mission as a person and a leader for the Kroger Co.
Tony Kemper, Head of School, The dePaul School
H.U.G. features individualized and informed instruction to children in a caring environment. The level of engagement between student and tutor is impressive. Within the one-hour session, students enjoy lessons which teach personal-social skills, word attack, and comprehension. It's an important program of wonderful reading instruction and abundant smiles.
Bill Perkins, Principal, Wilder Elementary
Part of the reason for its success is the consistency and structure of the program. The H.U.G. volunteers are reliable and are present. The program has sound activities that are proven to raise the level of reading achievement. Additionally, the volunteers build positive relations with students.
Our students look forward to the program and will remind us when it is a H.U.G. day. It is another strategy that our school relies on to move each child closer to our 3rd grade reading pledge of having all students on grade level in reading by third grade. The enthusiasm and passion that Ms. Broussard shows as coordinator is infectious.
Testimonials
