The Public Education Initiative (PEI) is a program of the Federation's Jewish Volunteer Network (JVN) to further our mission of tikkun olam (healing the world). PEI began in 1999 to create more opportunities for members of the Jewish community to become involved in the life of Cleveland.

Be a Tutor! During the 2011-12 school year, PEI tutors will work with students within seven schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD): • Bolton School (K-6) • Buckeye-Woodland School (K-8) • Buhrer School (K-6) • The Entrepreneurship Preparatory School (6-8) • Village Prep (K-2) • Ginn Academy (9-12) • Juvenile Detention Center •STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) High School (11th grade ACT Prep)

For more information or to find out how you can get involved, call 216.593.2900, ext. 263, e-mail jsemel@jcfcleve.org, or fill out our online registration form.

PEI provides training, an on-site coordinator, and a structured supplemental reading program and materials. It also oversees efforts to recruit a corps of caring volunteers to help build reading skills and one to one relationships with students. The program functions during school hours as a supplementary program, apart from the school's regular reading curriculum. As a result of this program, hundreds of volunteers from all faiths have come together to read, write, play learning games, and build relationships.

Funders: The 2010-2011 Maurice Saltzman Youth Grant Program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland; Jewish Federation of Cleveland's Campaign for Jewish Needs; McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal and Liffman Foundation; Martha Holden Jennings Foundation; Supporting Foundations of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland: Chelm Family Foundation, The Garson Foundation, Nathan L. and Regina Herman Charitable Fund, Norma and Ernie Siegler Family Foundation; David and Robert Stein Family Foundation, The Bennett and Donna Yanowitz Family Foundation; Time Warner Cable; The Neumann Family Philanthropic Fund; Target.

Partners: Fuchs Mizrachi School; John Carroll University Center for Social Service and Social Action; Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights; St. Ignatius High School; The Temple-Tifereth Israel; West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church; The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine - SPARCY students.

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