. . . a note from the Executive Director

Welcome to Bound Together!

For 31 years, Bound Together has provided tutoring, friendship and community to children and their families in Pontiac, founded in 1994 by parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pontiac as a response to the needs of students in a neighboring school. As you’ll learn elsewhere on this site, Bound Together has since become an independent non-profit partnering with All Saints, other area churches, civic and government agencies to provide tutoring and nutrition services to up to thirty-three elementary and middle school students on site — and more online when those needs arise.

The heart of Bound Together, though, is in its name.  Up to 100 adults volunteer every week during the academic year, and are committed not just to phonics and long division (though we’re pretty focused on that!) but also to relationship.  Our goal is to have one-to-one tutoring ratios, with regular assignments that foster warmth, trust and friendship with students and families.  We’re a community, investing in the lives of children as we work together – kids, parents, and mentors – to provide a platform for success and for joy. (Lots of joy!)

You may be new to Bound Together, and while I’ve been here for a while, I still feel we have a learning curve in common. I still find I have things to figure out every day, and so all of us — staff, tutors and students alike — always learn together as we work to put the long-term impacts of COVID along with other challenges in the rear-view mirror! And we’re encouraged that, in the midst of a changing and sometimes unpredictable world, some things still remain the same: the excitement about those report cards, the goals set and accomplished long past elementary school, and the stories of how everyone’s lives have changed over snacks and homework. We’re looking toward what the future might have in store and where our kids will lead us — and we will be thrilled to share that journey with you.

If you are that long-time friend, this is my opportunity to send you a heartfelt “thank you”, and to make the observation that this program’s core is the passion and dedication of its many supporters and volunteers, in all of the many capacities in which they serve.  Whether old friend or new:  please be in touch at director@boundtogetherpontiac.org, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you.

So, once again:  welcome to Bound Together, and thank you for being a part of caring community in Pontiac.

Warmest regards –

Michele