MasterCard Provides Grant for Homework Help @ The Library Services in White Plains

Library Director Sandra Miranda (left) and Francesca Borges Gordon, director Public Affairs, MasterCard International in the Children's Library during the Teacher-in-the-Library program. The White Plains Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from the MasterCard International – Youth Education and Technology Fund to expand its successful Homework Help @ the Library services for White Plains students. This is the 3rd consecutive year that MasterCard has supported Homework Help @ the Library, a program that provides students with two opportunities to get live help from real tutors.

The first, “Online Tutor @ the Library” is available free to White Plains Public Library cardholders through the Library’s home page www.whiteplainslibrary.org Students in grades 4-12 can connect to tutors in an online classroom for help in math, science, social studies & English. In the online classroom, students and tutors can review specific homework questions using features such as controlled chat, an interactive white board, and shared web browsing. Tutor and students remain anonymous, and sessions are routinely reviewed for quality control. The MasterCard grant has allowed service hours to increase to seven days a week from 2-11 pm. Spanish speaking tutors are available Sunday through Thursday from 6-10 pm. In addition to home access, the service is available from computers at the Library, Youth Bureau and Slater Center. To date, 1,700 students have used the service through the Library’s website.

The Library also offers help from White Plains teachers in the Children’s Library for students through grade 6. The Teacher-in-the-Library service is available Monday-Wednesday from 4-7 pm and Thursday from 4-6 pm when school is in session.

“MasterCard supports the communities in which many of our employees reside throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. There is a pressing need across these communities for more after school and weekend programs for young people which promote career exploration, entrepreneurial training, technology skills, tutoring and enrichment in the arts and sciences. We are pleased to make these grants from our Youth Education and Technology Fund to local nonprofits who are effectively addressing the needs of area youth,” explained Francesca Borges Gordon, director Public Affairs, MasterCard International.

About the MasterCard International – Youth Education and Technology Fund

MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members’ credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless advertising campaign is now seen in 98 countries and in 46 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.

About The White Plains Library Foundation

The White Plains Library Foundation was incorporated in 1995 to raise funds in support of the long-range goals of the White Plains Public Library. The Foundation’s current focus is on projects with immediate need and impact, such as Homework Help @ the Library. More information about the White Plains Library Foundation can be found at www.whiteplainslibrary.org