Empowering Children Bay Area

Empowering Children Bay Area focuses on reading tutoring for children who are not yet fluent readers. The program matches volunteer tutors aged 50 and older with children in 1st to 3rd grades who need extra help in reading. Students in the program are often a half to a full year and a half behind in reading.

• Ages: 6–9 years old

Launched in a single school in 2007, Empowering Children Bay Area now serves 16 schools throughout Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Sonoma counties and serves thousands of students in these areas. Most volunteers are ages 65–85 years old and have a variety of work backgrounds, and no experience is necessary to become an ECBA tutor. Volunteer training and continuing support are provided. ECBA conducts annual and ongoing data collection and reporting to measure student progress, using standardized assessments multiple times per year, including at least one mid-point and final assessment, and an ECBA staff person is designated to collect and analyze this data. The program has been recognized as a Program of Merit by Generations United and is part of Sequoia Living programs through which thousands of Bay Area seniors maintain their health, live independently, and participate in educational and cultural activities. The mission of Empowering Children Bay Area is to “Make a difference in a child’s life.” Paul Chilvers is the contact for schools in the Bay Area regarding bringing Empowering Children Bay Area to students.

Last updated March 28, 2026.