Pictured above (left to right) : Lindsay Ellis, Judy Ellis (Portco Packaging Employee) and Courtney Ellis

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 Portland - About Us

Minds Matter of Portland, chartered in 2006, is a chapter of a New York based educational organization that provides supplementary tutoring and mentoring on Saturdays for highly motivated (3.0 GPA or better), economically disadvantaged sophomore, junior and senior high school students who aspire to the best four year school to which they can gain admission and financial aid. Students receive instruction in writing, critical thinking, vocabulary, grammar, public affairs, and math. The curriculum also includes PSAT and SAT instruction, field trips, career days, and debate. Each student is paired with two young professional mentors from the Portland business, professional, and educational community. In the Fall of 08-09, Minds Matter of Portland had 45 students and the need for 90 mentors, and a volunteer staff of 37 focused on curriculum, administration, logistics, and fundraising.
 
In addition to providing instruction, Minds Matter helps place sophomores and juniors in summer college and prep school programs. Such programs bolster academic records, enhance personal aspirations and provide an introduction to the experience of attending college. For high school seniors, Minds Matter helps students apply to college and gain financial aid. This assistance includes: school selection, essay writing, and navigating financial aid paperwork. Nationally, Minds Matter students have attended some of the country's top public and private colleges and universities including Cornell, Wesleyan, Amherst, Brown, USC, Northwestern and Harvard. During the summer of 2008 Portland Minds Matter students attended programs on the campuses of Boston Univ., Harvard, Brown, Univ of Michigan, Fordham, Pratt Institute, Syracuse, The Putney School in Vermont, U.C. Berkeley, U.S.C. and U.C. San Diego as well as the Dartmouth College program in Spain.
 
Minds Matter of Portland is 100% volunteer, and supported by generous cash and in-kind donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations are used to fund formal education and cultural activities. Donations also pay the travel expenses associated with the students' summer college prep programs. Minds Matter of Portland is the recipient of generous pro-bono legal, financial, and classroom contributions from Tonkon Torp, Moss Adams, and Self-Enhancement Inc. (SEI), respectively.
 
Minds Matter of Portland is committed to building lifelong friendships between bright and motivated teenagers and positive role model mentors. Minds Matter provides students with educational opportunities they otherwise might not have had at a crucial juncture in their intellectual development. As a national organization, Minds Matter is driven by our inspiring mission to bring bright and motivated high school students from families with limited financial means together with dedicated mentors to achieve academic excellence and expand educational horizons.