Curry College Launches Aicardi Early Steps in Partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and Literations

MILTON, MA – July 30, 2025 – Curry College, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston  (BGCB) and Literations, is proud to announce the launch of a transformative early literacy  initiative aimed at improving reading outcomes for young children in underserved communities  in the City of Boston.  

In collaboration with BGCB and Literations, Aicardi Early Steps will expand and enhance current  Literations high-impact, one-on-one literacy tutoring to students in grades 1 through 4 who are  reading below grade level. This after-school program is being funded through a generous  donation from Curry alumnus Tom Aicardi and his family. “As someone who grew up in a very  under-resourced neighborhood in Boston and struggled as a young child in the public school  system, having an after-school program like this would have been a game changer for me,” said  Aicardi. “My family wants to give every child in these Boston areas a chance to increase their  literacy skills so they can excel in life.” 

This partnership comes at a time when statewide data shows that only about half of  Massachusetts third graders meet literacy benchmarks, with even more disparities for Black  and Hispanic students. The initiative targets these inequities by bringing evidence-based,  personalized reading interventions directly to the neighborhoods that need them most— starting with a one-year pilot program at the BGCB locations in South Boston and Blue Hill. 

“Investing in early literacy is one of the most impactful ways we can improve lifelong academic  and economic outcomes,” said Giordana Basta, Interim Assistant Provost at Curry College. “We  are honored to partner with two of Boston’s most respected youth-serving organizations to  ensure more children enter fifth grade as confident, proficient readers.” 

Key Features of the Initiative Include: 

• Expansion and renovation of Literations models at BGCB sites Edgerley Family South  Boston Club and Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club, with a goal of reaching at least 100  new students in the first year. 

• Curry College-led literacy training for all staff and volunteers participating in the new  intervention model, grounded in current brain research and best practices. • Enhanced family engagement and literacy resources, improving home support for  reading development. 

• Curry “Purple Pass” experiences to expose young learners to college life and promote  long-term educational aspirations.

• Collaborative events hosted by the Aicardi family to foster community connections and  volunteerism. 

“We’re not just teaching kids to read, we’re equipping them with the skills and confidence to  thrive in school and in life,” said Robert Lewis, Jr., Nicholas President and CEO of Boys & Girls  Clubs of Boston. “Literacy unlocks imagination, fuels self-worth, and creates the foundation for  future success. This partnership with Curry College and Literations delivers an educational model rooted in equity, excellence, and hope.” 

The initiative is powered by research showing that structured, high-frequency tutoring—even in  short sessions—can produce significant literacy gains in early elementary students. Through the  partnership work with Literations, students also build essential social-emotional skills while  improving reading fluency. Literations will direct the one-on-one tutoring component of the  Curry College literacy intervention, engaging trained community volunteers to build students  confidence and develop essential reading skills. 

“At Literations, we believe that every child, regardless of zip code, deserves the chance to  become a confident reader,” said Wes Enicks, Executive Director of Literations. “This  partnership with Curry College and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston amplifies our existing  evidence-based literacy model in the after-school space, reaching students who too often fall  through the cracks. We’re excited to join forces and extend the power of one-on-one, high dosage tutoring to more communities where the need is greatest.” 

Faculty and students from Curry College’s Department of Education will contribute directly to  curriculum development, training, and program evaluation—strengthening the pipeline of  future educators and literacy specialists. 

The pilot program will launch in Fall 2025, with plans to scale across more BGCB Club locations  in subsequent years. 

Media Contact: 

Liz Matson 

Vice President of Marketing and Communications 

Curry College 

617-333-2327 

liz.matson@curry.edu 

Curry College, founded in 1879, is a private, four-year, liberal arts-based insftufon in Milton,  Massachusegs. Curry is the only college in Massachusegs to guarantee students a job aher  graduafon, via The Curry Commitment program. The College is accredited by the New England  Commission of Higher Educafon (NECHE) and offers 28 undergraduate majors and over 70  minors and concentrafons, as well as five graduate programs. The College offers a wide array of 

co-curricular acfvifes including 40+ student-run clubs and organizafons and 19 NCAA Division  III athlefc teams. Visit us on the web at www.curry.edu. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is the leading and most impactful youth organization in Greater  Boston, catalyzing far-reaching opportunity for more equitable futures for 6-18 year olds in 22  communities and across eight Clubs and YouthConnect throughout Boston and Chelsea. Since  1893, BGCB has focused on making the region thrive and has played an essential role for young  people eager to explore their passions, find their purpose, and prepare for a life of success and  impact.  

In partnership with the public sector, private enterprise, related non-profits, donors and  volunteers, BGCB is aligned behind investing in the region’s urban talent pipeline and making a  generational impact that expands beyond the walls of its buildings and deep into the  communities it serves. Helping urban youth to navigate a fast-paced global climate steeped in change, the organization is recognized for fueling the future of the city and the Commonwealth  through its innovative “readiness” programs centered on three outcome areas: Academic  Success, Health and Wellness, and Workforce Readiness. It is an affiliate of the Atlanta-based  Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with over 5,000 Clubs nationwide serving over 3.6 million young  people. 

Literations drives educational equity through experienced community volunteers  empowering young readers for lifelong learning. Founded in 1991, Literations has supported  thousands of first through fourth graders across Boston, Framingham, and Chelsea with high dosage, one-on-one literacy coaching. Students in the program improve by an average of 1.5  grade levels in reading and demonstrate strong social-emotional growth. The organization’s  intergenerational model—recognized nationally through its affiliation with AARP Foundation  Experience Corps—also fosters meaningful service and community engagement among older  adults. Learn more at www.literations.org.