Our Story of Impact
for Kids has grown into a community-wide movement transforming education.
From Humble Beginnings
Tutors for Kids began in 2009, founded by Carolyn Ruhe and supported by her husband, Frank Russo, with a simple yet powerful vision — to help students succeed through tutoring support.
What started with just six tutors in The Villages has grown into a nonprofit serving 13 Title I schools across Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties. Over the years, we’ve experienced natural ebbs and flows – from steady growth to the challenges of COVID – but our mission has remained constant.
In 2025/2026 with around 200 active tutors, we continue to rely on community support to meet the changing needs of local students and teachers. Though our beloved founder Carolyn Ruhe passed away in 2024, her spirit and vision continue to guide us as we carry on her legacy of encouraging children to improve.
Our Growth Over the Years
2009
Founded
6 tutors, 1 school
2026
Today
13 schools
Our Impact Today
200 upwards to 300 Active Tutors
Dedicated volunteers from our community
100,000+ Students Served Since 2009
Across 13 Title I schools
1,000+ Hours Weekly
Of dedicated tutoring support
200,000+ Books Gifted Since 2009
Building personal libraries for students
Meet Our Founders
Carolyn Ruhe
Co-Founder & Board Member
Carolyn brought her passion for education and community service to create Tutors for Kids. With a background in education and nonprofit management, she recognized the critical need for additional academic support in Title I schools.
Her vision was simple but powerful: connect caring community volunteers with students who needed extra help to succeed. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from 6 tutors to hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
Key Achievements:
- Established partnerships with 13 schools
- Developed comprehensive tutor training programs
- Created the book gifting initiative
- Built sustainable funding model
Frank Russo
Co-Founder & Board Member
Frank’s business acumen and commitment to community service helped establish the operational foundation of Tutors for Kids. His strategic thinking and organizational skills were instrumental in scaling the program.
He focused on building sustainable systems and processes that would allow the organization to grow while maintaining quality. His dedication to fiscal responsibility ensures every donation maximizes impact for students.
Key Contributions:
- Developed organizational structure
- Established financial management systems
- Created volunteer recruitment strategies
- Built community partnerships
Meet Our Board Members
Dedicated leaders providing guidance and oversight to support our mission.
Joanne Cooper
Director
Bev Goldstein
Director
Hank Leavitt
Vice Chair
Sandy Lynch
Director
Joe Miller
Director
Josie Morello
Director
Judy O'Neill
Director
Shirley Potts
Treasurer
Chuck Ramberg
Chair
Bev Rovelli
Director
Frank Russo
Director
Colleen Vaneps
Director
Our Mission
Tutors for Kids, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening education in our communities by providing trained volunteer tutors to support students in public schools. We partner with teachers and schools to improve learning, build skills, and inspire lifelong achievement.
Our Vision
A community where every child has access to the educational support they need to reach their full potential, regardless of their economic circumstances.
Our Core Values
Compassion
We approach every student with empathy and understanding.
Excellence
We strive for the highest quality in all our programs.
Community
We believe in the power of community working together.
Integrity
We operate with transparency and accountability.