ePals Foundation
Cause Area
- Children & Youth
- Community
- Education & Literacy
Location
13625-A Dulles Technology DriveHerndon, VA 20171 United States
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Organization Information
Mission Statement
The mission of the ePals Foundation and In2Books is to increase the availability of quality educational opportunity and resources to economically and socially disadvantaged populations in order to bridge the educational and technological divide.
Description
ePals is the first, largest, and fastest growing online K-12 learning network in the world. ePals enables safe, global communication and collaboration, research-based curriculum, and eMentoring. The ePals Global Community™ (www.epals.com) and LearningSpace™ products offer teacher-supervised classroom-to-classroom exchanges and cross-cultural learning projects in more than 200 countries and territories, reaching more than 25 million students and teachers. With its international community, evidence-based literacy pedagogy, and rich media content, and strategic partnerships with National Geographic and Microsoft and others, ePals is a global center of meaningful learning.
The ePals Foundation is ePals' nonprofit entity whose primary initiative is the distribution and implementation of ePals' flagship curriculum program, In2Books, to economically disadvantaged students. In2Books (www.in2books.com) is an evidence-based, field-tested adult/child eMentoring program that promotes collaborative, authentic, and ambitious literacy and subject matter learning for grades 3-5. This award-winning program provides free books, a structured curriculum, and adult e-mentors to some of the country's highest-need students in a successful effort to increase students' interests and abilities in reading, writing, and critical thinking. In2Books currently serves about 4,000 students in 20 states.
Reviews
Would you recommend ePals Foundation?
16 reviews
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(2011-01-25 06:39:13.0)
I enjoyed writing the letters and connecting with my pen pal; it was a great experience. The problems actually arose when I received unfriendly emails, stating that I had made a commitment and need to send in my letter. Ironically, I always sent my pen pal her letter nearly a week before the due date. I even double-checked. I don't know it if was a system glitch but after seeing that same unruly letter towards the end of the term, I decided that until they rectify that situation (knowing who has sent a letter and who has not), I would rather not be a part of it. I completed the survey at the end and indicated that I would not return for fall 2010, but they still sent me information to begin the new school year.
(2010-12-17 13:56:34.0)
I was looking for a great program that I could give my time to wisely plus receive the feeling of importance back. This experience has turned out to be wonderful. It’s been truly rewarding. After I signed up (Sept 2010) it took several weeks before the program started. The reading schedule of books has worked out well with my schedule (schedules are sent out by email in advance). I’ve enjoyed the letter writing with my assigned 5th grader. It’s been fun! So, don’t sign up if you can’t commit to the entire school year – you would be letting a child down if you drop from the program in midstream! You find they are excited to receive your letters and communicate back.
(2010-09-25 10:36:39.0)
Is there a good reason why all the unflattering reviews have been flagged for removal? Even if I weren't put off by the attitude I got when I emailed for information, I would hesitate to pay to work for an organization that believes they are above criticism.
(2010-03-25 16:35:02.0)
This is a great way to encourage reading and writing skills in grade school children. It is fun to meet and get to know a child, and then to discuss a good book with him or her.
(2010-03-24 08:36:33.0)
In2Books is a great program. On you own time and from your home, you can connect with a child and encourage them to READ! I have had a great experience. We are on our third book and now and have shared so much about interests and life. The joy of reading is felt in such a greater context when a child can truly discuss, one on one, with an adult who cares about them and shows a genuine love of books. Recent studies that have explored the sources which children read most (internet) reinforce this for me. Thank you In2Books!
(2009-12-16 11:07:35.0)
I had no issues with signing up as others have stated. The teacher I am assigned to has been wonderful about keeping us in the loop, ie if books are late. The letters have been fun and I hope the children are enjoying the experiance as much as I am.
(2009-09-15 10:38:03.0)
when i went to the site to register I saw that they requested credit card information. Does this program's background check require any fees? If so, how many, how frequently,and how much?
Previously Flagged and Approved
(2009-07-06 23:50:30.0)
Wonderful Experience to work with this orgaization
I originally expected. I really had a great experience, with very little effort. I would recommend this program. I already signed up for the 2009/2010 school year!!!
(2009-07-07 10:01:49.0)
This organization did have some computer problems, but I know my epal was very excited about the program. So, I will do this again for the 2009-2010 year since it was very easy and took little time, but made a difference in someone's life.
Previously Flagged and Approved
(2009-06-03 20:58:01.0)
I just finished my first year with In2Books. At first it was a little slow, but after I established a relationship with my pen pal it was great. The one thing I realized was that the students in the program usually have limited access to computers, so their response time is slower than I originally expected. I really had a great experience, with very little effort. I would recommend this program. I already signed up for the 2009/2010 school year!!!
(2009-02-06 07:39:00.0)
This organization is wonderful! Admittedly it can be slow working with school systems around the country; however, once the schools have connected children with their pen pals it is off and running. I love that I can volunteer for this every year and don't have to worry about a huge time commitment that may interfere with my work schedule. I can be a pen pal anywhere and on my time, it is fantastic for a working professional or anyone with a busy lifestyle. Sharing the love of reading and books with children is extremely rewarding and hopefully will help these children stay engaged in school. Our future depends on it!
(2009-02-05 20:57:33.0)
I understand that coordinating a bunch of schools and background checks are a daunting thing for any organization, however I found myself getting a PenPal about 2 weeks after a friend of mine who signed up 3 weeks after I did. I have just now received my first letter, and I signed up in October.
My friend recently wrote to the "teacher" in charge of the first book she and her PenPal are supposed to read because she had not had any communication her at all, and was informed that they have yet to receive their materials from In2Books.
Unfortunately, I am somwhere in the middle of the road on this organization. This is a great concept that just lacks the planning at this point to follow through in a timely manner.
(2009-07-27 16:52:01.0)
Just a suggestion to people experiencing problems - write to the teacher and/or to the In2Books staff directly. When I did this, I always received a response. So rather than give up on this program, let's stay involved and give them feedback to help them improve!
Previously Flagged and Approved
(2009-07-07 09:57:43.0)
I joined epals in October 2008. I paid my $6, wrote the first letter, but never received a response or was told which books to read.
Previously Flagged and Approved
(2009-07-07 09:57:19.0)
I have paid $6 for the security check and filled out the information on the website. I have not had any student assigned to me, and all the customer support will say is that its pending.
Which makes me wonder about this program.
Previously Flagged and Approved
(2009-01-19 13:41:16.0)
They seem to be having start up issues with their website, but I've been able to contact them and have had an epal assigned. So far I've been able to get both books from the library. Correspondence is slow, but the person assigned to implement this program in my child's school wrote to say that she's actually the school librarian and has MANY children she has to coordinate. Evidentally, she has to read all their email and mine before they are sent out/received. I think if it could be coordinated by classroom it would be more satisfying on both ends but hopefully that will happen more in the future as this program expands.
Previously Flagged and Approved