I was able to spend a lot of time working on LIST projects this week, including adjustments to our website, more work on our grant writing initiatives as well as preparing for two upcoming fund raising events. For the website, I created new photo albums – most of the pictures are older ones, but the albums are new. I also added new pictures of some of the students that are attending LIST currently. Go to www.listhelps.org and click on the Students tab to see the faces of LIST; also check out the Location tab as well as the Event Photo tab. Check back in a couple weeks to the Event Photos; we will have new photos from our Laugh With Kids event.
On the grant writing front, I completed my research of various foundations I have come across in recent years and have a solid list of foundations to start our letter writing campaign. The firs step in grant writing is to send a letter of inquiry to introduce our organization as well as our grant initiative. Next week, my goal is to finalize the letters and then start sending them out.
I also spent some time working on advertising for both our events coming up. If you live in the Los Angeles area, check out Yahoo’s Upcoming page as well a s Craigslist and you will find our Laugh With Kids event advertised as well as our Jazz event (March 6 and April 26 respectively! If you know of any other free advertising venues for the L.A. area, let me know!
Finally, a couple stories from the day to day work with the students. This week, I had a great talk with a third grade boy who is not a very fluent reader. He is such a bright kid, and has all the skills he needs to become a better reader, and therefore, do better in school, but he does not apply himself, and for reading, he does not practice or read at all outside of what is required. I told him he was a smart boy and that if he would apply himself and practice, he could do much better in school. I really focused on practicing reading as this is the skill that is holding him back. I think through our talk, the idea is beginning to sink in, and I will continue to encourage him every time he comes. His potential is great, but he just needs some pushing to take the next step.
I also had a conversation with a parent this week that was very encouraging. He asked me when he needed to pay next (he is now paying for a month of tutoring at a time). He sad he was so happy with our services and that he had noticed an extreme difference in his daughter’s work habits; he said she has become much more focused since she started coming to LIST. This is a great example of the results we are working for with each student and it was encouraging to hear it from this parent.
