1805 Dalton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45214
Whiz Kids Tutoring and Mentoring
City Gospel Mission empowers men, women and at-risk youth to break the cycle of poverty. The Mission’s programs are centered on caring, personal relationships focused in four key areas: food and shelter, addiction recovery, job readiness and placement, and programs for youth living in poverty. With support from the Dater Foundation, City Gospel Mission's Whiz Kids tutoring and mentoring program serves more than 850 youth who are academically at-risk because of disabilities, poverty, and/or homelessness. Volunteers provide one-to-one tutoring and mentoring to the same child year-round. The program helps youth overcome difficult life circumstances and learning challenges to excel in reading and math.
A Whiz Kids Success Story …
Over the past 5 years, Maddie’s mentor Gayle has seen her at her lowest. Dyslexia. Depression. Doubt. Fear. So sitting on a bench at the University of Cincinnati during the senior’s first college visit, reflecting on how far Maddie has come, Gayle was overcome with emotion.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of laughter, a lot of tears, a lot of praying. When Maddie finishes her senior year that’s just going to be awesome,” Gayle says.
Theirs is a relationship that started with tutoring in Whiz Kids, grew into a mentoring relationship then became a genuine friendship.
“After mentoring for a while it’s more than just being your student. She’s your friend. She feels more like a niece or daughter. So when Maddie’s going through tough times it gets my heart, too,” Gayle says.
Maddie says, “She’s like my best friend. I could go to her for anything.” And she has.
“Having dyslexia was a real challenge keeping up with other students. Gayle helped me by pushing me to not give up on reading or to give up in general,” says Maddie, who was diagnosed with clinical depression at 11. “I’m doing a lot better. I see a therapist, and that’s really helped.”
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