Organization and Contact
Program Overview
Our mission is to support academic success and social development in children by leveraging the talent and wisdom of older adults through one-on-one tutoring and mentoring.
Empowering Readers OC is a flagship literacy initiative of Parentis Foundation designed to improve reading outcomes for students in 1st–5th grade who are not yet reading proficiently. The program delivers high impact tutoring by pairing trained older adult volunteers with young learners for consistent, one-on-one reading sessions that build fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
Grounded in the power of intergenerational connection, Empowering Readers OC leverages the time, talent, and life experience of senior mentors to support early literacy development while fostering meaningful relationships. Sessions are structured, research-informed, and aligned with proven high impact tutoring practices that help students accelerate toward grade-level reading proficiency, a critical milestone linked to long-term academic success and high school graduation.
By addressing early literacy gaps and strengthening community connections, Empowering Readers OC delivers measurable academic gains while creating a supportive environment where students develop a lasting love of reading.