Bound for Success (BFS) provides one-on-one tutoring, as well as sports and recreation, to 30 homeless children at a time — upwards of 100 children over the course of the year. Every day after school — and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the summer — BFS opens its doors to a brightly painted oasis of learning and fun, worlds away from the grim realities of daily shelter life.
The BFS curriculum is built on familiar routines that can provide comfort and consistency, which is seldomly available to children who have lost their homes and are living in the NYC shelter system. Each afternoon starts with an hour of tutoring to help students attain grade-level academics in literacy, math, and problem-solving skills. The remainder of the afternoon is given to creativity, the arts and physical play — including writing poetry, short stories, and plays, along with singing, acting and learning about music.
Before the kids depart, BFS staff touch base with each child’s parents to assess how his or her family is doing and offer additional support as needed. We connect families with other CFH programs and resources throughout the community to ensure children thrive — inside our classroom and out.
While education is a crucial part of the program, we also provide a safe haven for youngsters living in shelter to have fun, make friends, and be physically active. Field trips are often a highlight, as all our kids come from families with limited resources who often have to prioritize their immediate needs over costly outings. Staff accompany children to museums, fun and educational activities, sporting events, and holiday parties organized by the Coalition.
“Bound for Success helped me get caught up in Math. When I get to go every day, I’m so excited to see all of my friends.” ~ Alecia