Everybody Wins! - Programs


	Power Lunch
	Readers Are Leaders
	E-Mentoring



	As I come to think about my personal experience with Power Lunch the one word that best describes it is excellent. Excellent in the sense that I learned to enjoy reading, be creative with my writing and be confident that anything that I put my mind to, I can achieve. The precious time my mentor and I spent together and the memory of sharing a great book made me want to do the same thing when I graduated from the program. As a result, when I was in high school I was able to spend some of that precious time with three fourth graders of my own. Even today I spend time reading with my nieces. I had a great mentor. He had a positive influence on me and was kind-hearted like Arthur [Tannenbaum]. Arthur started a wonderful program for thousands of kids like me. Being older now and looking back, I don’t think there could have been a better program in which I would actually feel like I achieved something as I did in the Power Lunch program. All this experience has stayed with me and I will always treasure it as a wonderful thing. I will conclude this by saying the hard work that Arthur has put into making this program has paid off and I am proud to be proof of it today. Janelle Cosme Power Lunch Student -- PS 116, Manhattan 1989-1993 Janelle Cosme in 1991 as a third-grade Power Lunch student (top) speaks with Arthur Tannenbaum during a party celebrating both his retirement from private industry and the formation of EVERYBODY WINS! Years later, in November 2002, Janelle presents Arthur and Phyllis Tannenbaum with their Daily Points of Light award at the EW! Metro NY gala fundraising dinner (bottom photo).

Power Lunch is a lunchtime literacy and mentoring program in which elementary school students are matched one-to-one with volunteers from companies and other community organizations to share lunch, conversation, and good books. Adult volunteers promote reading for pleasure by reading aloud to the students, and provide the positive support and encouragement which helps the children believe that they too can be successful in school and ultimately in life.

How does Power Lunch operate?

• Once a week (or every other week if they alternate) adult volunteers travel to a nearby elementary school, are welcomed by the school coordinator, meet their students, pick up school lunch, and proceed to classrooms, the school library or other designated reading areas.

• In the case of student absences, the school coordinator notifies the volunteers prior to the scheduled meeting time. The school coordinator also handles volunteer cancellations. Rescheduling is always encouraged.

• Volunteers commit to Power Lunch for one school year and are encouraged to continue with the same child from year to year; students remain in the program as long as they choose to until graduation from elementary school.

How does Power Lunch help?

• Students benefit from the consistent, reliable, positive interaction with caring adults.

• Schools and teachers benefit from the nurturing and personal attention to at-risk youth.

• Volunteers benefit from a convenient, enjoyable and personally rewarding volunteer experience.

• Companies benefit from the positive effects of being recognized as providing a valuable service to the community, through a turnkey employee volunteer program nationally known and respected.

• Companies also benefit from enhanced employee morale and productivity.

Readers Are Leaders is a lunchtime literacy and mentoring program in which upper-grade students are paired with lower-grade students for weekly, one-to-one read-aloud partnerships. RAL helps both sets of students develop their love and appreciation for reading and build self-esteem through these meaningful "buddy relationships".

How does Readers Are Leaders operate?

• Students meet weekly during lunch, proceed to the library or a classroom, eat and read together.

• An on-site school coordinator trained and supported by EVERYBODY WINS! oversees the program.

How does Readers Are Leaders help?

• Read-aloud experiences improve literacy skills of both the younger and older students.

• Older students perform an important community service and serve as role models among their peers.

• Younger students benefit from consistent, positive interaction with their older student partners that can continue each year until graduation.

• Bridges are built between otherwise separated segments of school populations.

E-Mentoring is a program in development in which corporate, adult volunteers are matched one-to-one with Readers Are Leaders volunteer mentors, for an email-based mentoring relationship. Email partners will share stories about their lives, careers, aspirations and histories. Email will make it possible for students otherwise geographically limited, to have access to corporate, adult mentors and the world in which they work -- broadening their horizons and enriching their prospects for the future.