History

Healthy Cities Tutoring began in 1996 as a dream of school and community leaders seeking to support children and families in San Carlos. This intergenerational program was piloted at one elementary school in early 1997 and quickly expanded to provide support to struggling students at seven schools in the San Carlos School District.

In January of 2014, services were initiated at Clifford School in the Redwood City School District. Healthy Cities Tutoring was invited by the school principal to support the at-risk students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2015, services were expanded to Connect Community Charter School and Fair Oaks Community School in Redwood City in partnership with the Sheriff’s Activity League.

501(c)(3) Nonprofit Established

Healthy Cities Tutoring was administered by the City of San Carlos for the first thirteen years. Due to increased budget demands placed on both the City of San Carlos and the San Carlos School District, the program lost most of its funding in June 2011. The community and its many supporters did not want the program to disappear with the loss of funding.

Recognizing the significant need for the program for the hundreds of children and families that benefit from the one-on-one support provided by the community volunteers, the program was reestablished as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in September 2011. Healthy Cities Tutoring is committed to ensuring every child has the support necessary to achieve their full potential; we know that their achievement creates a healthy, safe, and thriving community.
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Schools/Sites served 2025-2026

• Arundel Elementary School, San Carlos
• Brittan Acres Elementary School, San Carlos
• Heather Elementary School, San Carlos
• White Oaks Elementary School, San Carlos
• Arroyo Upper Elementary School, San Carlos
• Mariposa Upper Elementary School, San Carlos
• Central Middle School, San Carlos
• Tierra Linda Middle School, San Carlos
• San Carlos Charter Learning Center, San Carlos
• Clifford School, Redwood City
• Henry Ford Elementary School, Redwood City
• Garfield Elementary  School, Redwood City
• Taft Elementary School, Redwood City
• Siena Youth Center, Redwood City
  • Serving students from Adelante/Selby Lane (K-5), Kennedy Middle School (6-8), Kipp Community School (K-5), and McKinley Middle School (6-8) at the Siena Youth Center location
• Redwood Shores Elementary, Redwood Shores/Belmont

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Board of directors

• Irene Ruiz, President
• Dan Taylor, Vice-President
• Michael Garb, Treasurer
• Linda Burt, Secretary
• Jay Strauss, Board Member

 

Redwood City Advisory Council

To help HCT understand the unique needs of Redwood City students we formed an advisory council in 2022/23. This council meets quarterly.

• Jose Aguirre, SAL-CARON Outreach Program Manager
• Elisa Chavez, RCT Collective Impact Coordinator
• Sandra Landa-Sanchez, BGCP, Redwood City Program Director
• Albert Lowe, Clifford Community School Director
• Ivan Martinez, PAL Executive Director and district parent
• Elizabeth Musco, Siena Youth Center Program Coordinator
• Florence Ortiz, RCEF Associate Manager

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MEET THE Staff

(from left to right: Emily, J.R., Janelle, Georganne, Colleen, Mariel, Keri)

• Georganne Morin, Executive Director. Georganne joined Healthy Cities Tutoring as Executive Director  in 2022, following a long career in education and nonprofit management. Georganne received her teaching credential from Holy Names University in Oakland, CA and went on to teach in the Oakland Unified School District and the International School of Kenya. Upon returning to the US, she earned a Master’s in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University. She then led educational programs and initiatives for several local and national nonprofits, including Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Raising A Reader and Reading Partners. Prior to joining Healthy Cities Tutoring, Georganne took a detour into higher education, working as the STEM Center Project Director at Cañada College in Redwood City. In her spare time, Georganne enjoys walking (you may have seen her roaming around the hills of San Carlos) and baking. She lives in East Palo Alto with her husband and three children, Rio, Zaila and Kieran, all of whom she has roped into volunteering for Healthy Cities Tutoring.
• J.R. Bae, Operations Manager. J.R. first became a volunteer tutor with Healthy Cities Tutoring in 2011 and joined the staff a decade ago. Over the years, she has enjoyed working with students, families, and volunteers to strengthen the community. Her children attended schools in San Carlos and Redwood City and are now in college. Outside of work, JR loves to travel, run, and hike.
• Keri Hoffacker, Program Coordinator. Keri has lived in San Carlos since 2004 and became involved in the community through her daughters’ schools. Now a Program Coordinator at Healthy Cities Tutoring, she enjoys staying connected with students and giving back to the community that has supported her family. In her free time, Keri loves playing tennis, traveling with her family, and spoiling her dog.
• Colleen McGuire, Program Coordinator. Colleen began working as a Program Coordinator at Healthy Cities Tutoring in 2025. Originally from the East Coast, she has called San Carlos home since 2006. She first connected with the community through volunteering with her children’s schools and sports teams. Colleen loves HCT’s mission to support students’ academic growth while also building confidence and engagement in learning. Her favorite part of the job is seeing the genuine connections between tutors and students. She enjoys reading, running, baking, and spending time with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and cat.
• Emily McLuhan, Program Manager. Emily and her family moved to San Carlos in 2012 from Toronto, Canada. With young children, she quickly became involved in classrooms and school PTAs, where she was first introduced to HCT. After many years of volunteering in local schools and community efforts, Emily joined HCT staff. She loves being able to support schools, students, and families in San Carlos and Redwood City. An avid reader, Emily also enjoys hiking and walking her dog.
• Mariel Valezzi, Volunteer and Operations Coordinator. Mariel recently joined Healthy Cities Tutoring as the Volunteer and Operations Coordinator. Originally from Mexico, she has lived in the Bay Area for the past 11 years. Her first experience as a volunteer tutor in East Palo Alto showed her the powerful impact a tutor can have on a child’s life, as well as the challenges faced by English Learner students. Inspired by these experiences, she is proud to support HCT’s mission. Mariel is a mom of two and enjoys CrossFit, reading, hip hop classes, and spending time with friends.

 

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