Page 5 - Jupiter West - February '21

Jupiter West, Page 5
Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center Recognized

For Excellence And The center is recognized
as a Gold Seal Quality
Innovation In Education, Care Program provider of

Outreach To The Community afterschool care, is licensed
by the State of Florida, and
As It Enters Its 35th Year Of is grateful for the support
of United Way of Palm
Service Beach County, Jim Moran
Foundation, The Honda
The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center (EWRTC) works Classic Cares, The Ed and
to honor the children and families served by its center – and Leah Frankel Supporting
beyond its Limestone Creek, Jupiter “perimeter” – daily. Foundation and others. This
On the heels of overriding challenges in 2020, as it enters community support allows
its 35th year of service, its leadership, staff, volunteers and the tutorial center to care for students to continue beyond
supporters are celebrating landmark growth and recognition graduation with scholarships awarded each year to graduating
for its ongoing dedication to helping children succeed in seniors at Edna’s “Movin’ On!” ceremony with the long-
school and life; and to extending its outreach and care into established Mary Hinton Scholarship Awards. Year after
the larger community of senior citizen residents – so that no year, students return to thank her and share steps along their
one feels alone. educational and career paths. Some return to volunteer and
hold staff positions under her leadership at the center.
The tutorial center’s Program Director, Travis Conway,
is one such example. Recognized in 2020 as one of National
Afterschool Association’s (NAA) elite 2021 Next Generation
of Afterschool Leaders; and as a coveted “Professional of the
Year” nominee in Nonprofit First’s 2020 Hats Off Awards – as
an alumni – Conway understands the needs of the students
served by the center. Giving Garden allows donors to adopt a garden bed to
Although just 28 years old, Conway led the charge during support the community. Named to honor Simon Baker, a
the COVID-19 academic closures to ensure his students Jupiter Community High School student who tragically
would not suffer. A product of the center, Conway knew passed away last August, Simon’s Giving Garden is a place
that students critically needed a sense of safety, feelings of reflection, carefully designed to include perennial plants,
In spite of the unanticipated pandemic, the Edna W. of connectedness and feelings of hope that they might not butterfly plants, and raised beds for wellness education and
Runner Tutorial Center was able to provide a continuity get at home. Working with area businesses and educators, community food. Students will plant vegetables and herbs,
of care and services with safe learning alternatives for he ensured computers, Internet access and other support nurture their growth, and learn about healthy eating habits,
working parents, so they could get back to work, and critical to students’ success were available as the county and how to prepare nutritious snacks and meals with the
children could continue to remain on track. Supported by transitioned to distance learning. Conway and his team center’s Culinary Program. The garden construction was
funds provided by the Community Foundation and others, wrote curriculum and built a plan to support the custom supported by numerous agencies and donors including the
the staff created new ways of interacting with volunteers #TutorialCenterMoments videos which helped support the Mary Durstine McArtor Reynolds Memorial Giving Fund,
and students to ensure that learning loss was minimized in academic and psychological needs of students. He led a team who created a Mary’s Growing Garden featuring nutritious
the challenging environment. That extra effort mattered, of eight teachers to create 160 custom STEAM projects, 172 food. The garden will also include pollinator plants for
and the Palm Beach County School District complimented videos, 856 home care kits and published them under the butterflies, plus areas where students can reflect and grow.
the tutorial center’s students on being well prepared when tag #TutorialCenterCamp during the summer. 100 percent Edna Runner, executive director of the Edna W. Runner
they returned to the classroom! of parents reported students participated in these programs Tutorial Center, said, “The kids are going to learn a lot
Last spring, with dedicated, fast-track grassroots regularly and area schools reported that the center’s students about food that really doesn’t come from the grocery store,
fundraising and awareness efforts, the center reopened its were better prepared than their peers upon return to school it comes from the garden, so this will be a great experience
doors, with a huge expansion completed including new this fall. for them.”
outdoor recreation spaces, counseling rooms and a STEAM Throughout the year, the program the staff team are While spending quality time at the center, filling the
classroom all generously donated by the community. Its supported by a cadre of 100-plus volunteers who are often gap when kids are “out of school,” students learn about
welcoming “new” doors invite kids to reap the rewards, of not retired professionals serving nearly 5,000 hours annually. The respecting themselves and others … and a big part of
only wonderful afterschool tutoring, recreation, life coaching center allocates 2,000 meals a year, over 500 music lessons, this is involving the kids in Runner’s extensive outreach
and mentoring ... but also to an exciting host of new and and nearly 100 educational events – often coordinating to the senior citizen members of the community. Events
enhanced programs filled with learning opportunities from support from area businesses or partner agencies. The impact and activities celebrate and showcase their contributions
volunteers – experts, teachers, and professionals in culinary is significant with 90 percent of EWRTC students going on to the community, and Edna draws from her personal
arts, music, technology, engineering, and more! to graduate high school on time. childhood memories to give back. Many are caregivers
Edna Runner, “Miss Edna” – as she is fondly known – is The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center achieved the coveted and grandparents of the children served by the center. Edna
an inspiration to all who know her and experience her genuine Maintenance Level in the Quality Improvement Standards tirelessly brings food, clothing, household items and masks,
care, concern, and love in the community. As executive for the 10th year. The strategic partnerships for enhanced to assist them with care and compassion.
director of the nonprofit organization that bears her name, learning opportunities with FPL, FAU, the University Events include the center’s Winter Wonderland,
Runner has grown the center’s offerings, always striving to of Florida, Florida State, the University of Miami, add Valentine’s Day Cupid Match Party, Veterans Day
do more. In 2020 alone, Runner, her staff, and the tutorial tremendous support for the center’s S.T.E.A.M. curriculum. Ceremony, and a Thanksgiving Feast with all the trimmings!
center have been recognized by the community with several These enhancements and a strong volunteer program helped The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center is valued in the
nominations by peers and officials. Some include: Nonprofit the center achieve 78 percent improvement in reading scores community as is the founder, Runner, a humble icon of
of the Year, Executive of the Year, Woman of the Year, and an overwhelming parent support rate. selfless giving. This special place inspires all who know
Professional of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, by highly Core to the center’s mission, is to offer a place where and experience it. Runner shares, “My goal is that everyone
acclaimed organizations and affiliations such as Nonprofits children feel safe and are nurtured to help build self-esteem, has opportunities to succeed. A lot of that starts with feeling
First, Palm Beach North Chamber Women in Business dream and achieve goals. In turn, they learn how to model loved and valued.”
Council, and the National Afterschool Association. this in their community. The newly-installed Simon’s Photos contributed by the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center
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