Students

"THINK Together is a very cool place because you have a lot of fun and they help you do your homework. I thank THINK Together for letting me go in the program and especially the coordinator of Nelson Elementary School, Mrs. Lantz. She made THINK Together like a dream come true...So that's why THINK Together is the best place on Earth."

5th Grade THINK Together Student

6th Grade THINK Together Student

"My life has changed since I got into this program. I used to get bad grades. I didn't care if I failed all my classes or if I got into trouble. I was a big trouble maker. I hung out with the wrong people, and almost headed down a wrong road. But then I started this program, and thats when I started turning things around, I started to get good grades, and my attitude changed. [My] Teacher started to give me good comments. My parents are happy now that I am getting good grades. I thought this program was a waste of time, but when I came I met some really cool people. I can get homework done now, and that's getting me good grades, and test scores. This program really helped me."

8th Grade THINK Together Student

Rafael Sanchez
THINK Together Graduate

“At first, the program appeared to me as a place to hang out and do nothing. However, I quickly learned from the staff and volunteers that this was a place to receive homework and personal support...things that I lacked from school and family. If it wasn’t for the constant encouragement from everyone at THINK Together, I would not be enrolled in college and planning to transfer to the Culinary Institute of America in New York City to pursue my passion.”

Jaime Gomez
THINK Together Graduate

Donors

“THINK Together has proven to make a difference in the lives of some very promising students, and fills a very important role in their successful education. The Irvine Company has been a long-time supporter
of THINK Together because we’ve seen the vision that it has and the benefits that THINK Together’s after school programs bring to a community.”

Sat Tamaribuchi
The Irvine Company

Donald Bren
Irvine Company Chairman

"Its been wonderful to see the lives that THINK Together has touched over the last decade. This is especially true when you consider the students who came from rough neighborhoods and have gone on to college and even graduate school.  I feel that as volunteers we are often more rewarded by this work than the students themselves."

Sam Anderson
THINK Together Board Member

"I was telling a friend of mine about [the program] and took her to see the operation. She became so excited about it. She was just ecstatic with what she thought she could do with teaching them to use their imagination..."

Marion Knott
Philanthropist

Volunteers

"My experience has been great!  I have met a lot of great people, everyone always seems to be in a postive and upbeat mood.  It is a very friendly environment."

Malia Mikaelian
Noah Teen Center and Home Office

"The children have already opened up to me and are not afraid to ask for help.  It's very rewarding helping them with their homework and seeing them understand a concept they were struggling with."

Katherine Lee
Sepulveda Elementary

Schools

"What we found was that THINK Together actually brought us the highest quality after school program that we could ask for. One with an academic component in particular that involves the community in our schools as well, so that more and more people become aware of the good things that we are doing, and also dove tails into the curriculum we are using, and takes it to the next step."

Dr. Peter Gorman
School Superintendant

"I realized that when the kids participate in this program, it made a difference not only in the classroom for themselves, but for the kids around them. I wanted to see what was going on with my own eyes, because I wanted to get advice from the people that were working this program; how do you do it, how do the kids get so motivated?"

David Busetti
2004 Milken Foundation Teacher of the Year

Parents

"This program is a huge benefit for our children and for us as a family. "

"This program is the best program we can have in the area for people working hard all day. [As [parents] we try to help, and now we can do it, we can help."

"The program keeps kids entertained and busy. Its nice to know that they are getting their homework done and that they are happy, not just sitting there waiting for mom to pick them up."