Oak Hill Rotary mentors local kids in need

By Yvonne Lim Wilson Tuesday, 08 December 2009

AUSTIN — Kolin Rickard, 10, loves social studies and science, but “math is not my favorite-favorite,” he said diplomatically.

While math might not be at the top of the list, Kolin, a fifth-grade student, is improving his understanding of it with the help of his mentor Easwar Dharmarajan.

“I’ve gotten better because we have more time to do what we have to do in class,” Kolin said.

Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Austin-Oak Hill have partnered with a local Foundation Communities housing location to help mentor and provide homework assistance. Since September, nine volunteers have been meeting weekly with the children.

Foundation Communities provides high-quality affordable housing and on-site resources for families and individuals in need. The organization owns 11 housing communities in Austin and three in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The partnership was a natural fit for Oak Hill Rotary, whose motto is “Service above Self.”

“I’ve helped write a speech, studied plate techtonics and Greek mythology,” said Kay Landry, Oak Hill Rotary Club president and mentor. “Having a caring adult is what it takes to make a difference. It’s been a blessing.”

Dora Morales, the mother of a first-grader in the program, said she has already noticed a change in her daughter after just two months of help.

“Before, she wasn’t really crazy about reading, but now she’ll take one page and have me read the other. She’s more confident,” Morales said.

Foundation Communities Learning Center Coordinator Marsela Montoya had originally contacted the Rotary group about donating supplies for the children, which the Oak Hill Rotary were able to purchase. That initial contact has blossomed into a partnership connecting mentors and children.

“We didn’t want to just give money to purchase something. We wanted to give personal help,” said Rotary Club member and mentor Maria Burbridge.

Foundation Communities, which works to improve the educational and financial standing of low-income families, currently serves 2,000 families in Austin.

For more information about Foundation Communities, visit www.foundcom.org. For more information about the Rotary Club of Oak Hill, visit www.oakhillrotary.org.