Math Motivators

Math Motivators students in a Connecticut school saw their test scores improve to 45% over the benchmark compared to students who didn’t receive tutoring.
Math Motivators students in a Connecticut school saw their test scores improve to 45% over the benchmark compared to students who didn’t receive tutoring.

Pairing Students with Professionals

Math Motivators offers free virtual and in-person math tutoring to underserved students in grades 3-12 who need and want tutoring but otherwise cannot afford it. The program uses a 2:1 model. Two students of similar ability are paired with one tutor, who works with the students to help them become proficient in math.

Math Motivators is an innovative tutoring program that closes the achievement gap by using a volunteer-driven math tutoring program that pairs underserved students in grades 3-12 with professionals and college students with strong mathematics backgrounds.

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Mission

The mission of Math Motivators strongly aligns with the mission of The Actuarial Foundation to enhance math education and financial literacy through the talents and resources of actuaries. The program also supports the Foundation's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with approximately 75% of participating students being eligible for free or reduced school lunch, and 70% identifying as Black, African American, Latino/Latina or of Spanish origin.

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Cities

Number of cities in which Math Motivators sites were located during the 2021-2022 school year.

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Tutors

The number of volunteer tutors grew to 543 during the 2021-2022 academic year.

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Students

We now serve more than 1,000 students per year at more than 60 program sites.

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Universities

During the 2021-2022 school year, our volunteers came from 30 universities and nearly 90 companies.

to Our Math Motivators Corporate Supporters

Our supporters help make brighter futures possible.

There’s Always Help When Students Need It

Tutoring through Math Motivators is convenient and gives students like Victoria and Jamil the support they need to improve their math skills.

Students receiving tutoring through Math Motivators

Improved by a mean of 113 points in the SAT course in 2021-22. We prepare students for success on the math sections of the ACT and SAT with a prep course, practice tests, digital learning platforms and a dedicated tutor.

Students receiving tutoring through Math Motivators

Significantly outperformed students who did not receive any tutoring. For example, students receiving tutoring in one Hartford school saw their test scores improve to 45% over the benchmark.

Students receiving tutoring through Math Motivators

Increase their math course grades. In one Iowa school in October, prior to joining Math Motivators, 20 ninth-grade students were earning low Ds or Fs in Algebra. By end of semester, 95% of these students in the Math Motivators program passed Algebra, and 60% passed with As or Bs.

How to Get Involved with Math Motivators

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Students

Sign up for FREE virtual math tutoring. Please ask a parent or guardian for permission if you are under 18. We tutor students from grades 3-12 and early college students.

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Educators

If you are interested in implementing a program in your school or organization, read and fill out our Readiness Assessment Form.

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Actuaries | Volunteers

We need virtual and on-site volunteers to provide local support in the communities where they live and work.

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Partners | Donors

If your organization is interested in partnering with Math Motivators or sponsoring an on-site location, contact us today.

What People Are Saying About Math Motivators

48.7%

Barry Jacobson

Math Motivators Founder

"The kids were working hard, they cared about what they were doing and wanted to do well. They had phenomenal teachers, but those in the inner city didn’t have the money to pay for tutors. I didn’t think that was fair, so I started Math Motivators in an attempt to level the playing field.”

Joe Finch, ASA

Joe Finch, ASA, MassMutual

Math Motivators Tutor

"I am a volunteer Algebra 1 tutor at a Hartford High School. The teacher and the students thank me after every session. It is incredibly rewarding to know I am working with students that need help with math but cannot afford to pay for a private tutor. It’s amazing to see how much impact only one hour has on their confidence.”

Kayla Hill

Kayla Hill

Math Motivators Tutor

"I absolutely love being involved with this tutoring program. The relationship I have with my students is what keeps me coming back."

Student

Grade 8

"I just wanted to say that the Math Motivators program has been helping me so much and that I’m so grateful for the opportunities I have been given this year."

Student

Grade 8

"Being in the group Math Motivators has made me more confident in my thinking ... I thought Math Motivators was going to be a program that just helps me with my math skills, but Math Motivators helped me with my confidence."

Joaquin Camara, ASA, MAAA

Oliver Wyman, Chicago, IL

"My experience with Math Motivators has been phenomenal. The Actuarial Foundation and Horizons for Youth organizers have been outstanding in taking care of logistics so I can just show up and tutor. The students I have worked with are bright, motivated and fun to work with. They inspire me."

Math Motivators Program Site Map

Click on the numbers within the map to see the specific locations and contacts for each region.

National Contacts
Karen Lindebrekke, National Program Manager
Celeste Alvarez, National Program Assistant/Pacific Program Coordinator 
Korri Rich, Program Specialist of Implementation 
Mark Elliott, Program Specialist of Cultivation

New England

Connecticut Hartford
Massachusetts Boston
Springfield
Worcester-Southbridge
Maine Portland
Rhode Island Providence

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

New England Region Contacts
Amanda Theriault, New England Regional Coordinator
Helen Mao, Boston Program Coordinator
Jennie Larson, Portland Program Coordinator
Rachel Marino, Program Coordinator for Hartford and Springfield

Mid-Atlantic

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.
Maryland Baltimore
New Jersey Jersey City
Newark
New York New York City
Pennsylvania Harrisburg
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Mid-Atlantic Region Contacts
Virginette Scott, Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator
Damaris Rodriguez, Harrisburg Program Coordinator
Zakia Rajput, NYC/NJ Program Coordinator
Catherine Smith, Newark/Jersey City Program Coordinator
Nichelle Lewis, Pittsburgh Program Coordinator

Southeast

Florida Delray Beach-Palm Beach
Orlando
Tampa
Georgia Atlanta-Norcross
Kentucky Louisville
North Carolina Charlotte
Greensboro

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Southeast Region Contacts
Dave Rogers, Southeast Regional Coordinator
Greg Jeffers, Charlotte Program Coordinator
Tareta Hill, Atlanta Program Coordinator

Great Lakes

Illinois Chicago-Waukegan
Bloomington
Indiana Indianapolis
Minnesota Twin Cities (includes Crystal, Fridley, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Richfield)
Rochester
Wisconsin Madison
Milwaukee

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Great Lakes Region Contacts
Stacey Muller, Midwest Regional Coordinator
Therese Marske, Chicago Program Coordinator
Bernadette Swider, Milwaukee Program Coordinator
Debby Isenhower, Indianapolis Program Coordinator
Vijay Ramkissoon, Twin Cities Program Coordinator

Heartland

Iowa Des Moines
Missouri Kansas City
St. Louis
Nebraska Lincoln
Omaha

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Heartland Region Contacts
Stacey Muller, Midwest Regional Coordinator
Mark Rowley, Des Moines Program Coordinator
Dillon Walker, Lincoln-Omaha Program Coordinator

Southwest

Arizona Phoenix
Texas Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Houston

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

National Contacts
Karen Lindebrekke, National Program Manager
Celeste Alvarez, National Program Assistant/Pacific Program Coordinator 
Korri Rich, Program Specialist of Implementation 
Mark Elliott, Program Specialist of Cultivation

Mountain

Colorado Denver
Montana Helena
Utah Salt Lake City

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Mountain Region Contact
Yvonne Gray, Denver Program Coordinator

Pacific

California Fullerton
Los Angeles
Oakland-San Francisco
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Hawaii Honolulu
Washington Seattle-Bellevue
Shelton

Active Cities
Upcoming Expansion Cities

Pacific Region Contacts
Ary Tohidi, Pacific Regional Coordinator
Celeste Alvarez, National Program Assistant/Pacific Program Coordinator

Giving Back

Jim Broulette is a volunteer tutor for Math Motivators at Franklin High School in Seattle. A former teacher turned actuary, Jim jumped at the chance to get back in the classroom when he heard about the Math Motivators tutoring program.

Inspire. Motivate. Volunteer.

Thanks to generous donations from the actuarial community, the Math Motivators program currently offers free in-person tutoring at more than 60 sites across the country and virtual tutoring for those who are unable to attend in person.

Math Motivators FAQs

Volunteer tutors enhance math education and serve as mentors for students in grades 3-12 who do not otherwise have access but need help with math. Math Motivators primarily focuses on Algebra 1 and pre-Algebra, but can support any math subject, including AP Calculus. There also is a free prep program for the math section of the SAT and ACT.

Thank You to Our Math Motivators Corporate Supporters

August 2022 - August 2023

Discoverer ($100,000+)

Pioneer ($50,000+)

Pathfinder ($25,000+)

Builder ($5,000+)

The Math Motivators program welcomes your financial support to run the program, provide incentives for the students, share tutor training materials, and expand the program to more schools and communities.