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Our Philanthropic Program
Overview
In 1988, a small group of women from Contra Costa County wanted to make
a difference — Buena Vista Auxiliary was born. For the first six
years, Buena Vista Auxiliary aided Assistance League® of Diablo
Valley in their many volunteer efforts. With this experience, they were
inspired to start their own program focusing on children's literacy.
In 1993, the Buena Vista Tutorial Program was launched at Meadow Homes
Elementary School in Concord. Twelve children participated that first
year. Since then, over 2,750 children in Contra Costa County have been
served. Currently 11 elementary schools in the Mount Diablo Unified
and Walnut Creek School Districts participate in our program. They include:
- Bel Air, Bay Point
- Cambridge, Concord
- El Monte, Concord
- Holbrook, Concord
- Indian Valley, Walnut Creek
- Meadow Homes, Concord
- Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill
- Shore Acres, Bay Point
- Sun Terrace, Concord
- Wren Avenue, Concord
- Ygnacio Valley, Concord
The program fills a huge need as state and federal funds are
cut from schools and language arts resources are dramatically decreased.
Program Benefits
The program targets children who read below grade level. The benefits include:
- Children who would otherwise fall through the cracks get reading assistance at no cost to schools or families.
- The participants' unique reading and learning needs are addressed with customized curriculum and a low student / tutor ratio (2:1).
- Credentialed teacher tutors can be immediately effective because they select participants they already know and teach in a familiar onsite setting.
- Significant improvements are made with the personalized attention participants receive in sixteen one-hour sessions over a four- to six-week period.
- Students gain confidence in showcasing their new reading skills to family and friends during celebration parties, gatherings that mark the end of the session.
- The program fosters students' continued interest in and access to reading and learning with gifts of books and school supplies.
- Teachers and school administrators stay focused on the children, while the auxiliary administers the program.
Impact
Since establishing the Buena Vista Tutorial Program in 1993, Buena Vista Auxiliary has raised almost $925,000 which has provided over 22,000 hours of tutoring and almost 8,300 books to 2,750 participants. Buena Vista Auxiliary members have volunteered 41,500 hours to support the program and have received an Outstanding Service Award from the Mount Diablo Unified School District.
"Buena Vista Auxiliary’s investment in the community has transformed the lives of countless children by giving them access to the world through reading."
- Susan A. Bonilla, Contra Costa County Supervisor
"With federal legislative requirements of No Child Left Behind and now Race to the Top, our schools are focused on continuing to strive to improve student performance. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program is a crucial component in our participating schools' intervention programs, affording many of our students the extra reading and learning support they need to meet academic standards."
- Rose Lock, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Elementary Education, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
"Buena Vista Tutorial Program is the district’s most effective community partnership with the most direct impact on learning."
- Roger Bylund, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Elementary Education, Mt. Diablo Unified School District 2002-2008
For more information about Buena Vista Auxiliary, please visit
our website at diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
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