After-school program at Whitcomb Middle School provides targeted math support to sixth graders through an innovative, sustainable tutoring model.
The Community Foundation for MetroWest (CFMW) is pleased to announce it has received a $25,000 grant from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation to expand its education initiatives to Marlborough Public Schools, providing essential math tutoring support to students at Whitcomb Middle School.
The grant supports a pilot after-school math club for 20 sixth-grade students at Whitcomb Middle School. The school selected students based on fifth-grade assessment data to help those who can benefit most from additional academic support. Participants receive 45 minutes of virtual math tutoring twice a week, on Mondays and Tuesdays, during the school year.
“This investment from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation allows us to deepen our impact
and implement a proven academic support model for Marlborough students,” said Matt Jose, Director of Programs at the Community Foundation for MetroWest. “By focusing on early middle school math achievement, we’re helping students build confidence and skills that are essential for long-term academic success.”
The program demonstrates CFMW’s dedication to scalable and sustainable solutions.
While earlier versions of the initiative depended on corporate volunteers, the expanded model now recruits work-study students from top universities, creating a steady stream of trained tutors as the program develops. For the Marlborough pilot, tutors will be recruited from Brandeis University and Johns Hopkins University.
CFMW partners with Saga Education, a nationally recognized leader in high-impact tutoring, which provides the virtual tutoring platform, program management, and coordination with the school district. Saga Education also oversees the training and supervision of work-study tutors to ensure high-quality instruction and alignment with classroom learning.
“BJ’s has a strong purpose of taking care of the families who depend on us,” said Kirk Saville, head of communications for BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We’re proud to partner with the Community Foundation for MetroWest to support Marlborough students and help expand educational opportunities in our community.”
The initiative aligns with CFMW’s broader mission and Equity in Education Action Project to strengthen communities across MetroWest by investing in education, economic opportunity, and quality of life for all residents.
For more information about the Community Foundation for MetroWest and its education initiatives, visit communityfoundationmw.org
About BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Established in 2004, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation partners with local and national
non-profits to provide essential needs to families in the communities where BJ’s
members and team members live and work. Since its inception, the Foundation has
awarded over $43 million to non-profit organizations and schools.
