Volunteer Opportunities for Community Members
Since 1995, Breakthrough Houston has brought equitable educational opportunities to the Houston students who need them most. Backed by almost three decades of experience, our programs support first-generation college students throughout their educational path, from middle school to college completion.
Last Spring, 100% of our underserved high school seniors were accepted into four-year universities across the nation, including: Princeton University, The University of Chicago, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Houston, and many more.
Essay Coach – As an Essay Coach, you will support academically motivated high school juniors and seniors as they work on their college essays. Essay coaches can remotely support students by providing feedback and positive motivation on essay drafts. Since some universities are making an ACT/SAT test score optional, the college essay portion of an application is critical to the success of a college applicant. Any person who feels they have structured writing skills or a passion to work on personal essay statements are strongly encouraged to apply.
Mentor – As a mentor, you will provide invaluable advice and support to academically motivated BTH high school or college students. There are several mentor/mentee planned activities, but we encourage you to be in touch with your mentee(s) throughout the year. Breakthrough students are paired with mentors by request, and all interested students sign a commitment contract. You can find the mentor application here.
Participate in Career Day – For over a decade, Breakthrough Houston has held a Career Day in the summer for its 8th grade students. Career Day is always held on a Friday during the summer program and is a highlight for the students who are involved. A survey is done at the beginning of the summer to find which careers our students are most interested in. Sponsors dedicate a Friday morning to sharing their work and passions with our students. If you are interested in hosting a group of 5-8 students, along with several chaperones for our next summer Career Day, please contact us.
Be a Role Model Speaker – Each summer, BTH seeks role model speakers for its middle school students. The topics vary from summer to summer. Some examples of past role model speakers have been a panel of female doctors from MD Anderson, a politician speaking about running for office and the meaning of gerrymandering, and a speaker focusing on Immigration Reform. If you enjoy speaking about your passion to a motivated group of students, please contract us for dates and times.
Contact Kathy Heinzerling, Executive Director, or Melinda Guthrie, Director of Philanthropy, for additional details or to create a meaningful opportunity for your organization.