ABC’s Study Buddies Connect (SBC) is an educational support program for under-resourced children struggling academically living in East Harlem and the South Bronx. SBC provides individualized tutoring for students by pairing volunteer mentors with ABC students, as well as academic coaching, and support with navigating the school system. 

Study Buddies virtual tutoring

Using online applications to connect, volunteers work from their homes, offices, or wherever they may be. Buddy pairs typically meet for 45 minutes to an hour once or twice per week at a mutually agreed upon time. Through the use of technology, buddies enjoy reading books and working on homework. Parents report that participating in SBC improves their child’s reading skills, confidence, and attitude towards school.

Study Buddies Connect and our ABC community is working hard to meet our students’ needs by offering the following services:

Individualized Tutoring: One on one tutoring designed to help our students with their literacy skills and provide mentorship. Study Buddies meet one to two times per week.

Math Pods: A learning group led by one tutor in which a group of three to five students will practice the fundamentals of mathematics twice a week. 

Reading Screenings: We offer free reading screenings of students to better guide their parents and tutors on what the student should focus on in their reading development.

With these initiatives, students can expect two to four sessions of academic tutoring each week. We also provide consistent involvement from our SBC staff in both our tutor’s efforts and in the lives of the families we work with.

Tutoring program books

Learn more about SBC

For more information, please contact us!

  • Director Erica Choi | echoi@a-b-c.org or (347) 597-2989

  • Founders Peggy Schleiff and Gail Geronemus

STudy Buddies by the numbers…

  • Over 13,000 free tutoring sessions for ABC students since March 2020.

  • There are currently 100 buddy pairs in the program.

  • We have volunteers in 10 states across the US.

  • 100% of our families would strongly recommend the service.

  • In a recent survey, 100% of responding students said that their tutor treats them fairly and with kindness.

Additional Study Buddies Resources

SBC’s tutor help page gives our volunteers access to frequently updated trainings, learning resources & more! We want all of our volunteers to feel as supported in their role as possible. Please contact SBC staff for the tutor help page password.

How else can you help?

$25 will equip a child with a year’s worth of school supplies.

$50 will provide eight books to our students.

$100 will allow all of our students to access Math Pods’ interactive teaching platform.

$150 will cover the cost of a background check for one new tutor.

$250 will provide specialist math equipment for SBC high schoolers.

$1000 will guarantee grade-level appropriate ELA and Math workbooks for all of our students.

Every donation has a direct impact on the educational access of our students. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Donations can be made by check, by wire, or by using the online donation form found below.

Checks can be made out to Association to Benefit Children @ 419 East 86th Street, New York, NY 10028. Make sure to include Study Buddies Connect as a note. (NOTE: ALL DONATIONS MUST BE EARMARKED FOR STUDY BUDDIES CONNECT)

For wiring instructions, please contact Judy Holtzman.