Ways to Help

Help More Students Graduate

The 2009 School’s Out Washington report states that  “afterschool programs are successful in improving a young person’s social, emotional and academic skills as well as positively affecting their self esteem. Studies illustrate how youth participating in afterschool programs were half as likely to drop out of high school and two and a half times more likely to go on to further education after high school.”

Since 1997, Invest in Youth has provided over 800 volunteer tutors, primarily from 39 financial services firms, who work with grade school children on homework and also serve as an adult role model who takes a yearlong interest in their academic success. Our program has continual requests from school principals to provide more tutors for the growing number of young students who need tutoring and something constructive to do after school.  Our in-kind volunteer hours are estimated to be worth $108,000 this year.

There are many ways you can help Invest in Youth.

Please consider making a financial donation, contributing your time, or sponsoring a student for a year. Your donation will be used to:

• Recruit, orient and organize tutor volunteers.
• Cover the costs of background checks and insurance.
• Ensure that trained professionals closely manage our four partner schools, facilitating communication among principals, teachers and tutors
• Provide an educational end of year event for students and their tutors
• Provide outdoor educational experiences to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience them.
• Finance the executive director, who oversees all activities and informs board decisions

Ways to Help

Volunteering: Tutoring, drive to summer camp, attend end of year event,  or offer professional help with website, database or newsletter

Donate online: A one-time gift or over time. Use our easy and secure online giving page to make your gift with a Visa, Mastercard or PayPal.

Donate securities: Download this form [pdf] to donate securities through Invest in Youth’s account at Morton Clarke.

Donate by phone: A one time gift or over time. Call Courtney Jones-Vanderleest, executive director, at (206)707-6719 to make a gift using Visa or Mastercard.

Donate by mail: Send a check to Invest in Youth, PO Box 334, Mercer Island WA 98040.

Sponsor a Student: A tax deductible gift of $500 will sponsor your student for a year. Your student’s name along with their progress will be sent to you in fall and spring.

Employee Matching: Ask your employer if they will match your contribution.

United Way giving:  Identify Invest in Youth for your targeted employee United Way gift.

No matter how much you give, your contribution will improve the lives of young people in our communities. Your donation will help children gain self-confidence, succeed academically, make positive choices, and build a healthy community.

Please contact Invest in Youth Executive Director Courtney Jones-Vanderleest at:
cjones-vanderleest@investinyouth.org for more information.

Invest in Youth is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for community involvement in Seattle Public Schools, tax ID #27-2208137.