There are four distinct opportunities for volunteers to get involved with Steppingstone:

1. Mentoring and tutoring Scholars with the SMASH program
2. Volunteering at College Success Academy
3. Planning and executing events
4. Advising Alumni

Fill out and submit our Volunteer Interest Form

The SMASH Program

S.M.A.S.H. is a tutoring and mentoring program for Steppingstone Scholars in grades 6-12 who have commenced from the preparation component. S.M.A.S.H. provides the Scholars academic support and guidance on homework and school projects. Scholars have one of two options – they can be paired with an Academic Mentor, an adult who has committed to tutor and advise a Scholar for at least one academic year and meets regularly with the same Scholar at least two Saturdays per month.

Scholars may also choose to work with a Study Hall Specialist, a tutor who has a particular area (or areas) of expertise who helps the Scholars when needed during study hall. Specialists commit to attending S.M.A.S.H. at least two Saturdays per month as well. All volunteers are welcome to come as often as they would like!

If you are interested in becoming a S.M.A.S.H. volunteer, please fill out and complete the Volunteer interest form or you may contact Steadman Graves.

S.M.A.S.H. is currently held at Boston Latin Academy, 205 Townsend Street, in Dorchester. Parking is available, and it is a short bus ride from Ruggles, Jackson Square, Dudley, Fields Corner, and Roxbury Crossing T stations. The SMASH sessions during the school year are on Saturdays, September through May.

College Success Academy

The mission of The Steppingstone Foundation’s most recent initiative is to increase the number of Boston students enrolling in and graduating from four-year colleges. Called the College Success Academy, this program operates in two Boston public K-8 schools, the Edison K-8 School and the Jackson/Mann K-8 School in Brighton. Based on the successful Steppingstone Academy model, the College Success Academy provides after-school and summer programming to students at these two schools, beginning the summer before fifth grade and continuing through the summer after eighth grade. This extended academic programming provides Scholars with the skills they need to enter high school ready to participate in a college-preparatory curriculum.

Volunteers will work as an integral part of the College Success Academy afterschool program in several ways:

• Supporting a positive climate and culture throughout the program day;
• Teaching positive social-emotional skills during recess and community times, including good sportsmanship, kindness, and respect;
• Working alongside professional teachers to provide individual attention to Scholars;
• Helping Scholars complete homework and engage in educational games and activities;
• Supervising snack, arrival and dismissal routines; and,
• Other tasks as needed including attendance, set up, and breakdown.

Program locations: Jackson/Mann and Edison Schools in Brighton

Program operating times and days:
Edison: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:20 — 4:45
Jackson/Mann: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:30 — 4:30.

College Success Academy contact: Helen Russell, Program Director, hrussell@tsf.org.

Events

The success of Steppingstone programs is inseparably linked to the results of our fundraising efforts. Benefit events alone raise nearly 30% of our annual revenue, and their success is due in large part to the efforts of our volunteers.

An Event Volunteer’s specific responsibility depends on the nature of the event. Throughout the year Steppingstone events include a black tie auction and dance and a live auction and dinner hosted by the Board of Directors. Event volunteers can be involved in two ways: as committee members or as day-of-event staff. Committees primarily focus on generating attendance and helping to obtain donated items for the auctions. Day-of-event volunteers help with registration, set-up, clean-up, running games, sellling raffle tickets, and handling other event activities.

To sign up to be part of our event committees or to sign up to be a day-of-event volunteer, please complete the Volunteer interest form or you may contact Alison Levy directly at 617-423-6300, ext. 226.

Alumni Advisors

Once Scholars have graduated from high school and entered college or the work force, they may elect to meet one-on-one with Alumni Mentors who have offered to look over resumes, discuss specific fields and career paths, help with graduate school applications, find scholarships, etc. For more information, contact Kate Wood at 617-423-6300, ext. 238.

Fill out and submit our Volunteer Interest Form