Many times we are asked why did we form our charity and why are we so positive on tutoring. Well below is a true family story that was an inspiration for us to form the My Favorite Charity Events and have as a major focus – tutoring. We hope you find this story as inspiring as we do and donate to My Favorite Charity Events to help us make more success stories.
In the fourth grade, the teacher suggested that my daughter consider getting our grandson some after-school tutoring. My daughter hired a tutor and Justin was tutored from the fourth grade until his freshman year in high school. As grandparents we wanted to also invest in Justin’s future by offering up tutoring lessons and as time went on there was a significant improvement in his studies and grades. Not only did he do well in class, but Justin became a member of the Air Force ROTC in high school and at one point led his squadron in ROTC competitions culminating in a State, Color Guard third place award of which there were 26 Teams.
The reason for sharing this story is to present you with a real-life example of how tutoring can change the direction of a child’s educational experience. Justin graduated from high school in 2020 and ultimately enlisted in the Navy. Justin began basic training with ease and then went on to his technical training. He excelled through his technical training course and was then assigned to Okinawa, Japan in July 2021, one of only two students assigned outside the United States. He started his new adventure as the youngest member of the team but gradually was called upon to do work that was normally reserved for those more senior to him. His work ethic resulted in him being named Seaman of the Quarter. He continued to gradually obtain more certifications and became someone that his supervisor and senior staff relied upon to accomplish the tasks associated with his unit’s mission.
In March 2023, Justin was promoted out-of-cycle to the rank of E-5 because of his outstanding work performance in the line of duty. Justin continues to increase his value to his assigned organization, and the US Navy as a whole. To this day we have no doubt that the tutoring provided him the foundation he needed to prepare him for the successes he now has achieved. This success story might not have happened without the tutoring Justin received. Unfortunately, as it is still the case today, his teachers then did not have the time or ability to provide individual instruction. We are grateful for the extra push provided with the tutoring, as Justin might have been left behind, but instead, he is a true success story and a model seaman.
We are proud to announce that My Favorite Charity Events has achieved the Candid (Guidestar) Platinum Transparency Seal for providing pertinent data about our organization that can be found at 
Ms. Bradshaw has over 30 years of teaching experience at the community college and grade school levels. She has worked with the VBCPS system since 2019, including offering tutoring for SOL preparation. Motivational speaker, topics include Volunteer Management, Team Building, and Stress Management. Ms. Bradshaw received her undergraduate degree in Gerontology/Human Services, and her Graduate degree in Aging & Management. Her love and enthusiasm for education is only second to her desire to be a part of the foundation of learning for students. 
Mr. Turner has worked as an educator for over a decade, first as a full-time Kaplan tutor before shifting into the public-school setting. Mr. Turner originally provided New York City public schools with SAT and ACT tutoring programs on behalf of Kaplan test prep. Since moving to Virginia Beach with his wife and daughter in 2015, Mr. Turner has taught, tutored, and coached students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has provided Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy to students with autism ranging in ages from 3-16. As a special education teacher with Norfolk Public Schools, he taught a group of 3rd and 4th grade students with Emotional Disabilities. Through the coordinated support of families, co-teachers, and supportive administration, his team of students (dubbed the “SuperDolphins”) achieved a collective SOL pass rate of over 80 percent. Mr. Turner currently works as a Special Education teacher at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and believes strongly that relationship-building and play-based learning are the foundations of academic recovery and long-term success.