30 minutes of your time.

Think about the things that take 30 minutes out of your schedule during a regular work day. What does that happen to include? A long lunch? Maybe that board meeting you don’t necessarily have to attend? The 10-minute break that turns out to be a bit longer than you expected?

So why not spare that time to volunteer?

Orlando City has actively been in partnership with Read2Succeed, a local opportunity to mentor a pair of second grade students.  Members of the OC staff drive to an elementary school close to the front office and, for a total of half an hour, mentor a pair of second graders in their reading and grammar skills.

Director of Ticket Operations Russell Dayvault has been one of the volunteers for the Read2Succeed program for Orlando City since the beginning.

“It’s a rewarding experience,” Dayvault said. “It’s great to see my two students improving in their reading skills each week. It’s 30 minutes I look forward to each week.”

Do you happen to be worried about drive times away from your workplace? Read2Succeed takes extra time and care to make sure you’re paired with an elementary school located close by, eliminating any long drive that may include traffic.

“Here in Central Florida, there are children struggling to improve their reading skills,” said Jeanne Smith, head of the Read2Succeed program in Orange County. “They need a caring adult in his or her life to help them. When you serve as a mentor, you enrich your life as much as you do the life of a child.”

Orlando City is a proud partner of the program and hopes you and your organization can take part. To become a Read2Succees mentor or learn more about the program, visit their website at www.foundationforocps.org or contact Jeanne Smith at [email protected].

And hey, it only takes 30 minutes out of your day.