Support K–12 Tutoring and Mentoring Through REACH

Connecting Cornell students with Ithaca's young learners, one ride at a time.

Our mission

Raising Educational Attainment Challenge (REACH) is a Cornell University service-learning organization operating through the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement. Our mission is to support K–12 students throughout Ithaca by providing tutoring, mentorship, and individualized academic assistance while fostering meaningful connections between Cornell students and the local community.

Through partnerships with local schools and after-school programs, REACH volunteers work alongside teachers and educators to help students strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Whether assisting elementary school students with reading and math or helping high school students navigate challenging coursework, our volunteers are committed to making education more accessible and supporting students at every stage of their learning journey.

At REACH, we believe that meaningful change begins with showing up, building relationships, and investing in the success of our community's students.

What we do

REACH connects Cornell student volunteers with schools and community programs throughout Ithaca, providing academic support to students from elementary school through high school.

Our current community partnerships include:

• Beverly J. Martin After School Program: Supporting elementary school students through homework assistance and educational activities.

• Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC): Helping students with math and reading and leading engaging after-school activities.

• Fall Creek Elementary School: Assisting teachers with classroom activities and providing individualized academic support.

• Ithaca High School Math Support Room: Helping high school students strengthen their understanding of algebra, geometry, precalculus, and other mathematical concepts.

Through these partnerships, our volunteers provide additional attention and encouragement to students while supporting the educators who work with them every day.

Beyond academic assistance, REACH emphasizes consistency, mentorship, and community engagement. By returning to their tutoring sites each week, our volunteers can build meaningful relationships with students and contribute to a supportive learning environment.

Why transportation matters

Every week, REACH volunteers travel to local schools and after-school programs throughout Ithaca to provide academic support, mentorship, and encouragement to K-12 students. These relationships help students build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and see new possibilities for their futures.

For many Cornell students, however, getting to these sites can be a challenge. Without access to personal vehicles, transportation can become a barrier to volunteering and limit how many students we can serve.

To ensure local students receive consistent support, REACH provides transportation for volunteers traveling to partner sites across the community, including elementary, middle, and high schools. Reliable transportation helps mentors show up week after week, build meaningful relationships, and provide the dependable support students, teachers, and families count on.

By funding transportation, you do more than cover the cost of a ride. You are helping connect young people with positive role models, expanding access to academic support, and strengthening the partnerships that make our work possible.

By supporting transportation, you help ensure the distance between Cornell's campus and local classrooms does not become a barrier to educational support.

Why your support tters

Your donation helps ensure that Cornell student mentors can reliably reach REACH tutoring sites throughout Ithaca, providing local students with the consistent academic support and encouragement they need to succeed. Transportation may seem like a small detail, but it is what makes these life-changing connections possible week after week.

With your support, we can:

• Expand access to academic support: Ensure local K-12 students have regular access to mentors who help build confidence, strengthen skills, and foster a love of learning.
  
  

• Provide consistent, meaningful mentorship: Enable volunteers to maintain a dependable presence in students’ lives, creating relationships that inspire growth both inside and outside the classroom.
  
  

• Remove barriers to service: Allow more Cornell students to participate in tutoring and mentoring, regardless of whether they have access to personal transportation.
  
  

• Strengthen our impact in the community: Support ongoing partnerships with local schools and youth-serving organizations that rely on REACH volunteers to provide academic enrichment and encouragement.

• Invest in the next generation: Help create opportunities for young people to thrive academically while connecting them with positive role models who believe in their potential.
  
  Every gift helps connect a student with the support, encouragement, and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.

Join us in making a difference

At REACH, we believe education has the power to create lasting change, and that every student deserves access to encouragement, mentorship, and opportunities to succeed.

When you donate to REACH, you're doing more than helping a Cornell student get to a tutoring site. You're helping local students build confidence, receive academic support, and form meaningful relationships with dedicated mentors. You're also supporting educators and strengthening the connection between Cornell University and the Ithaca community.

Your generosity ensures that volunteers can consistently show up for the students who count on them, creating opportunities for learning, growth, and lasting impact. Together, we can continue empowering the next generation of learners and leaders, one relationship at a time.

Donate today to help REACH go the extra mile for Ithaca's students.

As a registered student organization, REACH is committed to equal access to its programs and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected identity status.