THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504070050
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VALERIE CARINO, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
IT TOOK ONE student's success to remind Matthew McLean that all kids have dreams. Most kids just need help getting there.
In November 1991, McLean read a newspaper story about Tony Griffin, an All-American wrestler from Kempsville High School who failed his senior year but was later accepted to Norfolk State University, where he earned a 3.5 grade-point average. He then transferred to Pennsylvania State University with a partial scholarship.
The man whose family helped him do it - by helping him believe in himself - was Robert Bobulinski, a retired business executive from Virginia Beach. Bobulinski met Tony through his son, one of Tony's teammates on Kempsville's wrestling team.
Moved by the story, McLean called Bobulinski to talk about ways to help more athletes qualify for scholarships. They started the non-profit Making a Difference Foundation in March 1992.
Too many youths were getting involved in crime instead of enriching their lives through education, they decided.
``We were both tired of seeing kids in the paper who had the potential to do more with their lives,'' said McLean, owner of Praise Lawn Care.
And they thought of the numbers of youths unprepared for the work force as a warning to society.
``When kids who can't add or subtract are going to work for these companies, you know that something's wrong,'' McLean said. ``It's just a big cycle that needs to be corrected.''
Making a Difference was originally targeted at athletes who were academically at risk.
Bobulinski and McLean first worked with 13 members of Norview High's football team and then with members of Booker T. Washington's boys basketball team. They were more than successful - all the student athletes were accepted by colleges.
The program was then opened to all students in grades 8 through 12. It now offers SAT preparation services, tutoring by volunteers in all subjects, advice about college financial aid, job placement services and college referrals.
Of the 4,200 students who have worked with Making a Difference, Bobulinski estimates that more than 1,000 have gone on to college.
``I never dreamed of it,'' Bobulinski said of the program's success.
Since its beginning, Bobulinski has been the foundation's major source of financial support, contributing $30,000 of his earnings every year. But since he retired in January, the program needs financial help.
``Our biggest thing right now is to find an organization that can give us the proper funding so we can offer this to students on a larger scale,'' McLean said.
The philosophy behind the Making a Difference Foundation, Bobulinski said, is to take a ``humanistic'' approach toward every student. Bobulinski and McLean agree that schools aren't doing enough to help weak students.
``I'm not trying to antagonize the school systems,'' Bobulinski said. ``By their own admission, they are overburdened by society's prob-lems.''
Bobulinski said that even the toughest kids want to succeed, but they're not given as much attention as other students.
``Kids need someone to walk with them. It gives a kid a sense of self-worth and importance,'' Bobulinski said. ``Even the toughest kids have a nice side to them.''
Students agree that the foundation's no-nonsense strategies work.
Derrick Daniels, a junior defensive end on Tallwood High School's football team, said that he's learned some useful test-taking strategies for the SAT from the program.
``They spend a lot more time with you,'' said Derrick, 17. ``You're not just a number here.''
Derrick hopes to get a football scholarship to the University of Virginia, Elon College, Virginia State University or Hampton University.
Charles Payne Jr., a freshman at Old Dominion University, said the program worked because it was personal. Payne was one of 13 members of Norview's football team who received tutoring through the program.
``You didn't get the individual attention in high school, whereas Bob knew every single student's name,'' said Charles, 18.
``A lot of people want to talk about the negative, but I think what Bob wants to teach is that you can succeed in life if you're willing to put forth the effort,'' he added.
The Making a Difference Foundation's most recent project is in cooperation with the YMCA. Volunteers met this week in the Bridle Creek apartment complex in Virginia Beach to introduce residents to the program. They plan to offer SAT and GED tutoring sessions in an empty apartment. They also tutored 60 students at New Hope Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.
``If, as responsible adults, we don't take responsibility, then we deserve what we get,'' Bobulinski said. ``Is it idealistic to think you can help everybody? Yes, but we have to attempt it.'' MEMO: HELP AVAILABLE
The Making a Difference Foundation offers free tutoring at the
following locations. There is no registration, but eventually, students
must bring a friend to the tutoring sessions.
Mondays 7 to 9 p.m. at Kempsville High in Virginia Beach and I.C.
Norcom High in Portsmouth.
Tuesdays 7 to 9 p.m. at Kempsville High.
Thursdays 7 to 9 p.m. at Booker T. Washington High in Norfolk and
Indian River High in Chesapeake.
Students must pay $25 to register for a SAT seminar held at
Kempsville High School every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Valerie Carino is a sophomore at ODU.
by CNB