Friends and family, I’d like to urge you to contribute to EVKids, a remarkable organization pairing urban students in Boston with college students in Boston for tutoring. My time as a tutor was one of the most rewarding experiences I had as an undergraduate at Harvard and I’m proud to now serve as a newly appointed member of the EV Kids Board of Trustees.

Sometime in the fall of 1997, myself and a few friends went to the student Mass and then accepted the invitation from the Catholic Students Association for a spaghetti supper (and at the time some seemingly heavenly box mix brownies). A representative from Earthen Vessels (the EV in EVKids) encouraged us to apply to be a tutor. We were accepted and what followed was a four-year journey taking the Red Line to Savin Hill to meet weekly with Jonathan, a freshman at Burke High School. We spent the next four years going over homework, but also sharing stories, playing a little basketball, praying, and occasionally meeting off-campus especially when Chilis had all-you-can-eat fajitas. It was enormously spiritually fulfilling and helped became an integral part of my formation in college. When I graduated, I immediately volunteered to be a counselor at the EVKids camp in Vermont.

I’m a Catholic educator today in part because of EVKids.

This organization has just turned 41 and is working hard every day to serve more students, seeing them through high school and onto college. Your contribution will make it possible for a student in these unprecedented times to stay on track, graduate, and succeed in the next phase of their life.

EVKids kept things going during the pandemic and made sure that students had a vital connection to sustain their learning and build an important relationship with their tutor - when so many relationships were lost. Now, we're back in person and need your support more than ever. I cannot be more proud to be on the Board. Help us stay on the Road to Success - any amount would be appreciated.