1. A proud initiative of
With generous support from Dollar General Foundation and Mott Foundation

2. What is Raise Your Hand Tennessee?
A statewide collaborative effort to recruit volunteers to read to, tutor, and mentor children and youth in our state into schools, out-of-school time, and other community settings.
A proud initiative of
With generous support from Dollar General Foundation and Mott Foundation

3. What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee. #1
What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee? #1. Bringing non-profit organizations, corporations and state agency partners together to recruit and place volunteer readers, tutors and mentors where needed in Tennessee such as schools and out-of-school time programs.

4. What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee. #2
What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee? #2. Educating the public and creating awareness about the initiative and the need for Tennesseans to volunteer to read to, tutor and mentor children and youth.

5. What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee
What are the goals of Raise Your Hand Tennessee? With the primary goal of… #3. Retaining and generating new volunteers to tutor, mentor, and read to children and youth in our state.

6. Volunteers can help children…
Enter school ready to succeed
Read proficiently by 4th grade
Make a successful transition in and out of middle school
Accelerate learning in afterschool and summer school
Graduate from high school on time
Be ready for success in college, work and life
Establish positive relationships with adults that add to sense of safety, support, and success.

7. A Volunteer Reader…
Engages children in storytelling, opens their minds, and unlocks their imagination
Supports literacy development
Helps children learn to read…so they can then read to learn!
Establishes an important adult-youth relationship that supports Social-Emotional learning.

8. A Volunteer Tutor… Instructs a child one-on-one or in small groups
Prepares children and youth as they transition toward high school, college and career success
Has a significant positive effect on academic success – especially with at-risk children who are most frequently active in afterschool programs.

9. A Volunteer Mentor… Lets a youth know someone believes in them
Supports and guides youth by providing them with a role model and positive outlet
Gives youth emotional support that fosters self control and self esteem
Results in improved academic performance and stronger relationships with family and friends
Encourages youth to make healthier lifestyle choices, reducing the likelihood that youth will drop out, abuse drugs or commit crimes

10. Volunteering is also good for the volunteer…
Boost resume and network
Play an important part in improving our community
Enjoy the interaction and relationship you build with children and youth
Experience a tremendous personal sense of accomplishment, as well as appreciation from those you read with, tutor, or mentor.
Become important advocates for the needs of local children, schools, and afterschool programs.

11. Volunteering is also good for employers
Employees who volunteer through the work place have a more positive attitude toward their employer and colleagues
Corporate citizenship is valued by customers and impacts an organization’s image and reputation
Generating volunteer readers, tutors and mentors helps build a better workforce for the future

12. Employers can Raise Their Hand through…
Making a commitment to supply a minimum number of new volunteer readers, tutors or mentors
Willingness to allow employees to volunteer on a regular basis during work hours
Making a pledge to sustain a volunteer effort through a company-wide initiative or policy

13. Schools and other organizations can help too
If your school, afterschool, or organization has a need for volunteer readers, tutors or mentors, you can join the Raise Your Hand Coalition! We’ll drive volunteers your way through 2-1-1, our website, and other venues.

14. For more information about how to…
Volunteer to read, tutor or mentor
Link to or dial 2-1-1
Start an organization-wide program as an employer OR
Join the coalition to help connect volunteers with volunteer opportunities in your school
Contact Mary Graham at United Ways of TN at or

15. Thank you from the Raise Your Hand TN Coalition!
Tennessee Business Round Table
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network
Tennessee Children’s Trust Fund
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare
Tennessee Department of Education
Tennessee Education Association
Tennessee Parent Teacher Association
Tennessee Principals Association
Tennessee Retired Teachers Association
Tennessee Scholars
Tennessee School Boards Association
Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Voices for Children
United Ways of Tennessee
Volunteer Tennessee
YMCA
2-1-1
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boys and Girls Clubs
Children’s Reading Foundation
Eastman Chemical Company
FIFTYFORWARD
Fight Crime Invest in Kids
First Lady’s Office
Governor’s Books from Birth
Hands on Nashville
Love Helps, Inc.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
PENCIL Foundation
Signal Centers, Inc.
Stand for Children
State Collaborative on Reforming Education
Tennessee Achieves
Tennessee Afterschool Network
Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children

16. A proud initiative of
With generous support from Dollar General Foundation and Mott Foundation