La Rabida’s award-winning tutoring program gives our patients and their families the resources they need to thrive in the classroom.  Our tutors range from current high school and college students to La Rabida’s very own Chief Financial Officer, Mark Renfree.

“I’ll be starting my 11th year of tutoring this fall and all the kids I’ve had the opportunity to tutor have been great to work with,” shares Mark. “Seeing them excited about an accomplishment - whether it’s passing a test, making the honor roll or even graduating – and sharing their success is very rewarding.”

Mark and our staff of volunteer tutors help kids – kids like Zoie – garner the tools they need to prosper in the classroom. Zoie has been enrolled in our tutoring program and has worked closely with Mark for the last four years. During her weekly session, Zoie has the opportunity to bring any schoolwork she may be struggling with and get the assistance she needs to excel academically.

“Working with Mark has helped improve my grades and test scores,” shares Zoie. “Sometimes I get confused, and working with him every week has really helped me.”

While schoolwork isn’t always the most exciting activity, our tutors work to make subjects like math and history engaging. “Mark always makes homework more fun than it actually is,” says Zoie.

By working one-on-one together on weekly basis, the two have formulated a tight-knit relationship that goes beyond completing an algebra equation. "One of my favorite moments came last year when Zoie had her inspiring story featured at our annual gala,” shares Mark. “My family and I spent the evening with Zoie and her family and everyone was so proud of her accomplishments.”

Interested in learning more about our tutoring program? Please contact Tonisha Daniel at 773-256-5985 or tdaniel@larabida.org for more information.

La Rabida’s tutoring program runs October through May. Tutoring takes place Tuesday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

La Rabida's 2018 Gala Video that featured Zoie's Story

This story was featured in the October 2019 issue of eCurrents, La Rabida's monthly newsletter. To view the October issue of eCurrents, click here.