About Tova

TOVA was founded in 1997 to provide mentors to Jewish teens in Far Rockaway/Five Towns communities. Starting with 2 mentors and 2 teens, the program has grown quickly. We now service all the local Jewish schools and work with children from first grade through high school. There are many reasons that children and teens need mentors: loneliness, family loss, divorce, very large families, changing schools, or just not having a big brother or sister. There are many children who need a little extra support during difficult periods of growing up. TOVA is there for them.

TOVA stands for Torah Viable Alternatives, and is the brainchild of the noted psychologist, Dr Norman Blumenthal and the Dean of Secular Studies at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Mr. Richard Altabe. Together, they worked with Fran and Allen Ganz and Neil Rosen, and envisioned a program that utilized the talents of young adults to help teenagers, and the results have been wildly successful. At the start of this school years, the program is already servicing close to 70 students that range in age from six to sixteen. The program anticipates serving over 100 children this upcoming year.

Statistics prove that mentoring works. The results of an independent study of children matched with a big brother or big sister show that 52% are less likely to skip a day of school; 37% are less likely to skip a class; 46% are less likely to start using drugs; and 27% are less likely to start drinking. After one year of having a mentor, problematic behaviors decrease, and in the second year of the partnerships, real growth is usually evident in the children. TOVA mentors usually meet with their students twice weekly, during school hours. The time is spent however the student chooses-playing basketball or getting a manicure. “A mentor’s job is to be a friend and guide,” Director Andrea Borah explains.

"Our mentors are often a lifeline that keeps a kid connected,” Richard Altabe, Executive Vice President, explains. “For whatever reasons, if a child feels alienated from parents, family, school and the community, a mentor can make all the difference, that child no longer feels alone.”

“The community also plays a part in making the TOVA program so successful, “he continues. “Some community members have donated tickets to ball games. It is impossible to measure what that level of community caring means to a kid who feels alienated from life. It is a powerful form of support for a child in the TOVA program to know that an anonymous member of the community cares enough to donate tickets to a game.”

TOVA has become so successful that a new branch has opened in Kew Gardens, Queens. This is the next step for students who are aging out of the elementary after school homework help program called “Bridges”. Anyone 21 years or older who is interested in becoming a mentor can call the TOVA office at 516-295-0550.





		TOVA was founded in 1997 to provide mentors to Jewish teens in Far Rockaway/Five Towns communities. Starting with 2 mentors and 2 teens, the program has grown quickly. We now service all the local Jewish schools and work with children from first grade through high school. There are many reasons that children and teens need mentors: loneliness, family loss, divorce, very large families, changing schools, or just not having a big brother or sister. There are many children who need a little extra support during difficult periods of growing up. TOVA is there for them. TOVA stands for Torah Viable Alternatives, and is the brainchild of the noted psychologist, Dr Norman Blumenthal and the Dean of Secular Studies at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Mr. Richard Altabe. Together, they worked with Fran and Allen Ganz and Neil Rosen, and envisioned a program that utilized the talents of young adults to help teenagers, and the results have been wildly successful. At the start of this school years, the program is already servicing close to 70 students that range in age from six to sixteen. The program anticipates serving over 100 children this upcoming year. Statistics prove that mentoring works. The results of an independent study of children matched with a big brother or big sister show that 52% are less likely to skip a day of school; 37% are less likely to skip a class; 46% are less likely to start using drugs; and 27% are less likely to start drinking. After one year of having a mentor, problematic behaviors decrease, and in the second year of the partnerships, real growth is usually evident in the children. TOVA mentors usually meet with their students twice weekly, during school hours. The time is spent however the student chooses-playing basketball or getting a manicure. “A mentor’s job is to be a friend and guide,” Director Andrea Borah explains. "Our mentors are often a lifeline that keeps a kid connected,” Richard Altabe, Executive Vice President, explains. “For whatever reasons, if a child feels alienated from parents, family, school and the community, a mentor can make all the difference, that child no longer feels alone.” “The community also plays a part in making the TOVA program so successful, “he continues. “Some community members have donated tickets to ball games. It is impossible to measure what that level of community caring means to a kid who feels alienated from life. It is a powerful form of support for a child in the TOVA program to know that an anonymous member of the community cares enough to donate tickets to a game.” TOVA has become so successful that a new branch has opened in Kew Gardens, Queens. This is the next step for students who are aging out of the elementary after school homework help program called “Bridges”. Anyone 21 years or older who is interested in becoming a mentor can call the TOVA office at 516-295-0550.			Volunteer Enrolling Your Child Essay Contest To view the Worry Wall video click here You must have RealPlayer to view this video. Click here to download the free player.