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Together, We can Help Improve K-4th Graders' Reading Skills

BE THE DIFFERENCE ™ Today

Tutor with H.U.G.

Join us as we encourage young minds to discover the joys of reading. With flexible, online tutoring, it's easy to make a difference from home.

Become a H.U.G. School

Register your school for the H.U.G. reading program to ensure that students receive tailored support to enhance their literacy skills.

Donate

Donations to H.U.G. directly impacts students' literacy development, providing them with the resources and support needed to excel in reading.

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 fourth 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:

Raising the U.S. national 4th-grade average reading level
Enabling students to BE THE DIFFERENCE™ to themselves, their family, and their community
Enhancing the employable workforce in the community through education
Reducing the pipeline to prison

Learn More About Us

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 that is 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 valued to share their wisdom.

Help us Be the Difference in a Student's Life Today!

Regardless of your status as an individual, a church or community organization, or a company with workforce or HR objectives, embracing our mission through either becoming a tutor or donating today offers benefits for individuals and communities as a whole.

Become a Tutor

Donate

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Ashley Byerley, Instructional Coach at Old Mills Elementary

The individualized program meets the needs of some of our most striving learners while also integrating social-emotional skills needed to achieve more and become productive citizens. Our students always look forward to the tutoring sessions and have grown over the last several years.

Brad Maudlin, Kroger Division Manager in Retail Operations

The weekly reading development and word understanding of HUG students is amazing! Being a HUG volunteer for 3 years has been an exceptionally rewarding experience for me and I would highly recommend getting involved and “Making a Difference” for these wonderful children.

Rylen W., Student at JB Atkinson Elementary

What I like about HUG is I used to be kind of a bad reader and, once I joined this (the HUG Reading Program), I got better at reading. I like reading now.