Children who want access to extra help outside of school often have to pay upwards of $60 per hour to certified teachers for tutoring. Sensing a need, American Civics Institute now provides tutoring for free in Morris Park.
The newly formed American Civic Institute’s first project brings 11 high school juniors from Cardinal Spellman High School’s Service Society together to tutor children in grades three through six.
The students will tutor the children in all subjects under the supervision of a certified New York State teacher. The tutoring program is hosted by New York Sports Club at 1601 Bronxdale Avenue.
Sal Conforto and Al D’Angleo founded the American Civics Institute last fall to engage in worthy projects that promote good citizenship and patriotic values.
“The tutoring program is a grassroots effort to help kids who need tutoring but cannot afford it,” D’Angelo said. “The high school kids doing the tutoring are going to bring their own enthusiasm. I expect the tutors are going to get as much out of this program as the children being tutored.”
A kickoff celebration for the tutoring program was held on Tuesday, May 5. Ann Clair’s Salumeria at 1130 Morris Park Avenue catered the event free-of-charge in support for the venture.
New York Sports Club general manager Edward Ruiz, members of the Cardinal Spellman High School Service Society and their moderator Judith Furnari, Councilman Jimmy Vacca, and representatives from Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto all attended the event.
“Something like this tutoring program encouraging young people to be role models is great,” Vacca said.” Just being role models will be invaluable to these tutors and the younger children. We are also showing kids who are struggling that they can succeed in academics.”
The students who are participating in the new program said that they were excited to be taking part in a program that should uplift many Bronx kids.
“It is free for the kids and we will get to help on all subjects,” said Michelle Boncardo, one of the tutors.
Her classmate Alexandra Feliz added: “We know we are going to have an impact on the younger kids’ lives.”
For more information about the program, call the American Civics Institute at (718) 828 0978, or visit them on the web americancivicsinstitue.org.
