SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Instead of complaining about education issues in Shelby County, one Memphis man is setting a goal to do something about it.
Von Jackson comes from a whole family of educators. So, instead of asking for gifts for his birthday this year, he is trying to raise $25,000 for a free online tutoring company.
“If I never do anything, I’m absolutely sure it will never get fixed,” he said. “But if I try something and it does work out, then all the effort is worth it.”
Jackson works for a tech company that services Shelby County Schools. So, he sees first-hand how badly some kids need extra attention.
That is why he set a goal to raise money for an organization called Learn To Be.
“They provide free online tutoring to any student,” he said.
Learn To Be is a non-profit that recruits tutors, who volunteer their time to help kids. The company does not have a presence in Memphis yet, but the founder and CEO Neeraj Kapoor thinks it could be a great resource for Shelby County teachers and parents.
“We have about 600 tutors nationwide who are ready and able to help with whatever it is they need help with,” Kapoor told WREG.
Parents can sign their kids up for tutoring on their own or school teachers and administrators can reach out for help.
Jackson has raised $1,000 already and hopes by his birthday in April, he will have reached his goal. “A $25 donation that you make provides one month of tutoring for those kids through this service,” he explained.
You can donate to Jackson’s cause by clicking here.