Hello , I'm Ashley Cheng, the Executive Director of CCSC. I'm sharing this fundraiser on behalf of Trent Hawkins, the program lead for the PK-5 Tutoring program, who needs your support to continue its great work.

Uplift Children Literacy

Hello, my name is Trent Hawkins, and I’ve been a tutor, camp counselor (shown in the picture below), and now serve as the Program Lead for the CCSC PK–5 Tutoring Program for over two years. During this time, I’ve worked with dozens of students, each of whom has taught me something new about resilience, growth, and the importance of community.

One student I’ll never forget is Adam (name changed for privacy). When I first met them on Zoom, they hardly spoke any English. They sat quietly, eyes lowered, clearly overwhelmed by the challenges of learning in a new language.

But gradually, things started to change. With encouragement, patience, and the support of our program, Adam found their voice. They began raising their hand in class, laughing with classmates, and eventually reading full sentences aloud with pride. Seeing that transformation reaffirmed why this program matters so much.

With your donation, you can give another child like Adam the same opportunity to feel supported, build confidence, and succeed both academically and socially. Your gift could provide English books for a student eager to learn, extra resources for ESL learners, or a scholarship for a child in need.

Every $500 helps a child for one year of tutoring. With your help, we can expand the capacity of this program to reach our goal of supporting 40 more students.

About PK-5 Tutoring Program

The CCSC PK–5 Tutoring Program is a youth-led initiative under CCSC that provides bilingual tutoring for low-income and immigrant children in San Francisco. Since launching in July 2020 during the pandemic, we've supported low-income PK–5 students who face challenges learning English and adjusting to school. Our high school volunteers lead small-group sessions twice a week using a structured curriculum focused on language development and mentorship. Our mission is to close the education gap and help every child grow with confidence and community.

For more moments from the program, see our Instagram: @ccsctutoring

For information about our companion summer program, see the video below.