Our Mission
We believe in the potential of all children to rise above adversity, stay in school, and achieve in life.
Who We Are
RISE Augusta is on a mission to Realize Individual Student Success Every day.
Since 1997, we’ve supported at-risk students in Richmond County through academic and non-academic services that help them overcome barriers and thrive. In 2020, we became an independent nonprofit, allowing us to respond more directly to the unique challenges and needs of our community.
Each year, RISE Augusta serves nearly 5,000 students across five schools and two alternative education programs. We provide in-school support during the day and after-school tutoring for struggling readers in grades K–3 at the HUB for Community Innovation Augusta.
Our Helping Hands Tutoring and Wraparound Program has reached thousands of students over the years by offering literacy remediation, basic needs assistance, free books, and supplies.
Additionally, our STRIVE program helps disadvantaged teens and young adults navigate next steps after high school. As we grow, we continue to expand our partnerships and deepen our impact in areas identified as critical by the community.
We believe education is the most powerful path out of poverty—and that every child deserves the chance to succeed, no matter their circumstances. With your support, we’re creating a culture of achievement across Augusta.
Join us as we RISE.
We know that education is key to future success
We know that our community schools need additional resources and support
We know children must be inspired, encouraged and prepared to become successful adults
We know that we can be part of the change that propels students to successful futures!
We know that Literacy is key to unlocking the doors to learning.
RISE Augusta: Supporting Literacy, Empowering Futures
At RISE Augusta, we believe in every child’s potential to succeed. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty by empowering students through literacy and foundational support. Whether we’re providing in-school tutoring, after-school tutoring, enrichment activities, books, or meeting basic needs, our goal is to help children build the skills and confidence to thrive—before they become another statistic.
We focus on early literacy because we know reading opens doors. Our programs are free and serve kindergarten through fifth-grade students reading below grade level. We also offer STRIVE, an individualized program for youth ages 16–22 focused on employment readiness and continuing education.
What We Do—and What We Don’t
While we are deeply committed to student success, it’s important to clarify the scope of our work. RISE Augusta is not a special education provider. Although many of our staff and volunteers have educational, medical, or professional backgrounds, we are not licensed to diagnose or treat learning disabilities or manage severe behavioral or neurodevelopmental challenges.
Eligibility: We serve K–5th grade students who are reading below grade level and are not currently receiving special education services.
Students with IEPs: We refer students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) back to their schools to access the specialized, legally mandated services they deserve.
Training & Support: Our team is trained in literacy interventions and trauma-informed practices, but we are not certified in special education or equipped for clinical interventions.
Compassionate Referrals: We strive to treat every family with respect and empathy. When a student’s needs fall outside our scope, we work to provide referrals to more appropriate services—often starting with the child’s school-based support team.
We recognize how hard it is when your child is struggling, and we admire the strength of the families we serve. We are proud to support hundreds of students every year, with an 84% improvement rate that speaks to the impact of targeted, compassionate intervention. While we can’t serve every child, we are committed to doing what we can—clearly, kindly, and with heart.
Why we do what we do.
In the U.S., 11.9 million kids live in poverty in the United States, 36% of Richmond County, GA children live in poverty.
We want all kids to succeed!
Poverty and its overall impact on children and communities is a major obstacle to the health of any community. Education’s promise cannot on its own lift all poor students from where they started. Education can narrow the achievement gap and it can be a positive beacon for success, but non-school factors like one’s living conditions, its impact on student health, cognitive development, familial make-up, and social-emotional growth are all critical to a child’s success.
In the U.S., 11.9 million kids under 18 live in poverty, shouldering more than they should have to. Without community support, they are more at risk for missing school, dropping out and failing to earn a high school diploma. By helping our most vulnerable students stay in school and succeed in life, we are building stronger, healthier and more economically stable communities where every person is capable of reaching his or her greatest potential.
The Importance of Reading to Children
“Reading to young children is proven to improve cognitive skills and help along the process of cognitive development. Cognitive development is the emergence of the ability to think and understand; it’s “the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem-solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood” (HealthofChildren.com).
When you begin reading aloud to a child, it provides them with background knowledge on their young world, which in turn helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read.
“Language is the most powerful tool human beings possess. And reading is one of the most fulfilling and effective means to master this tool.
Reading allows children to understand various emotions. This helps in their emotional and social development since they learn to associate their feelings with words and find a way to express themselves better.” (KidsRKids.com)
Literacy
Students need literacy in order to both engage and understand the written word in everyday life. Aside from books, one must be able to read articles, manuals, signs, labels, and even messages on cell phones. Beyond the functional level, literacy plays a vital role in transforming students into socially engaged citizens. Being able to read and write means being able to keep up with current events, communicate effectively, and understand the issues that are shaping our world.
Wrap Around Supports
When basic needs are not being met in a child’s life, “other concerns will then take precedence over learning and achievement.” The student cannot be ready to learn because their efforts and attention are focused on survival and meeting the lower level needs. They may instead, “act out and cause disruptions or be insubordinate” (Burleson and Theron, 2014)
Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.
RISE Augusta often provides wraparound supports to help children overcome obstacles to their school success. For instance, some working poor and families in poverty have complex issues that can ultimately impact their children at school. Needs like school supplies, food, clothing, shoes, access to health care, eye glasses, adaptive aids, and even some school-sponsored events can be barriers to disadvantaged children. By providing what they need or facilitating extra support on their behalf, RISE Augusta empowers students to concentrate on their success in school and not on obstacles.
Connecting families to the resources they need can also help improve attendance. Improving student attendance can result in stronger family and community relationships resulting in a better sense of safety in the school culture (Bryk, 2010)
Wraparound services are a very individualized and holistic care management process for youth. RISE Augusta works closely with schools, families, students, and other organizations to help our students overcome their obstacles to school success, including but not limited to mentoring, tutoring, remediation, basic needs, and enrichment.
Be a part of the solution.