Youngsters in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood will get a helping hand toward success through tutoring and other services provided by CSU, thanks to a gift commitment by alumnus Steven Kimmelman.

Working with the Community Learning Center for Children and Youth (CLC) in the College of Education and Human Services, his gift supports undergraduate and graduate student tutors and supervisors to work with elementary school children in the Central neighborhood. His gift also supports technology, such as iPads and other interactive devices, to help increase parental involvement in learning and boost students’ skills in math, science and English.

Through its staff of CSU faculty and students, the CLC serves children, youth and families from the greater Cleveland community on a year-round basis by providing free assessment and tutoring programs for elementary and middle-school children who are having difficulties with math, reading or learning in general.

Kimmelman, BBA ’80, is the chief executive officer and founding principal of Redwood Living, Inc., a real estate development and management company. After attending a TEDx conference at CSU and hearing a speaker detail the educational challenges facing inner city youngsters he was inspired to become part of the solution.

Kimmelman believes that by supplying elementary students with additional learning (i.e., daily tutoring – in particular with math and reading comprehension), this increased knowledge will substantially help prepare these students for middle school, high school and, most importantly, life. If anyone has suggestions on how to successfully implement the above goal at elementary schools in the inner city, please contact him at skimmelman@byredwood.com.