30 Years of Connection, Confidence, and Reading
To mark 75 years of walking alongside our community, we’re sharing monthly stories of MFS programs that reflect our past, shape our present, and build our future.
This month, we’re celebrating MFS AARP Foundation Experience Corps—an intergenerational tutoring program that has helped thousands of students reach critical reading milestones through the power of connection, care, and one-on-one support.
Grandma Cherry, one of our first Experience Corps tutors, working with a student at an early MFS school site.
Then: A Visionary Partnership Begins
In 1995, MFS became one of the first national sites for Experience Corps, a visionary program that matched adults aged 50+ with young readers—building skills and confidence side by side, one word, one book, one relationship at a time. In 2011, Experience Corps became part of AARP Foundation, expanding its reach and strengthening its mission.
From our earliest volunteers—including the beloved “Grandma Cherry”—to today’s dedicated team, Experience Corps has stayed rooted in one simple idea: literacy and connection go hand in hand.
“From the very beginning, we saw what happens when you bring a dedicated volunteer and a student together. The reading scores mattered—but it was the relationships that left a lasting impact.”
— Jessica McLaren, Coordinator, MFS AARP Foundation Experience Corps
Today’s tutors are still showing up with heart—logging thousands of sessions each year across MFS school sites.
Now: A Legacy of Literacy & Connection
Today, more than 30 older adult volunteers serve across 8 school sites, logging over 4,700 reading sessions last year alone. They support 200+ students, helping them develop fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
This structured, evidence-based model is designed to ensure students meet their reading benchmarks by third grade—but its power runs deeper. The one-on-one time, encouragement, and relationships built along the way benefit students, tutors, and school communities alike.
And when the pandemic struck? Our tutors (average age: 70) didn’t miss a beat. They trained themselves in virtual platforms and kept showing up—like the tutor who worked with a student in Ukraine, even as his family fled to Moldova during the war.
What’s Next: Help Us Keep Growing
Experience Corps volunteers past and present—celebrating decades of connection, literacy support, and intergenerational learning.
As we celebrate 75 years of MFS and 30 years of Experience Corps, we’re not slowing down. The program continues to evolve—supporting students academically and socially while offering purpose, joy, and connection for the older adults who serve.
With your support, we can keep this incredible intergenerational work thriving.
This is part of our 75th Anniversary series celebrating MFS programs across decades. Stay tuned each month as we look back—and forward.
Thanks for helping us celebrate 75 years of care, equity, and connection. Here’s to the next 75!
