Education Matters Tutoring executed a fundraising campaign this summer to support an early literacy initiative for infants and young children in underserved areas of Mississippi. Funds raised will primarily benefit the statewide initiative “Talk from the Start.” The campaign’s goal was to provide funds to purchase reading resources for the parents and caretakers of newborns in areas of Mississippi where access to quality educational material is limited.
Between May and July, student-led Education Matters Tutoring collaborated with eleven local restaurants, such as Bulldog Burger, Edo, Brent’s Drugs, and Lost Pizza Co., to host a series of fundraising events, generating a total of $3,658. The fundraising efforts also included selling pizza cards in partnership with Domino’s Pizza.
Research indicates that early exposure to reading significantly improves language skills and comprehension, a key focus for Talk From the Start, an initiative associated with the Mississippi Children’s Museum. “Infants who are read to daily build comprehension and develop language faster,” said Shelby Grant, Founder and Executive Director of Education Matters Tutoring. “By supporting Talk From the Start, we are helping the next generation of Mississippians enter the education system better prepared.”
Education Matters contributed $3,400 to Talk from the Start. The remaining portion of $258 will be reinvested into Education Matters Tutoring for program maintenance. The contribution is expected to enable a local pediatric clinic to distribute approximately 2,000 books to newborns throughout 2026.
