QUEENS — A new outpost of a popular after-school program opened recently on Queens Boulevard aiming to help local kids who struggle with math and reading, the owner said.
The new center — Kumon of Kew Gardens — is located one block from the Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike subway station, on Queens Boulevard at 77th Avenue.
“Our goal is to provide really good service for these children and make a difference in their lives,” said Doris Li, 37, the owner, who is also an instructor at the center.
Li, who lives in Forest Hills, said she decided to open the center when her 7-year-old daughter, who attends P.S. 196, one of the top elementary schools in the area, started to struggle in class.
Li, who at the time worked as a human resources manager at an insurance company, said she had a hard time finding an after-school program in the area.
“This neighborhood is full of high-rises and families that really focus on education,” said Li, referring to Forest Hills and Kew Gardens.
Established more than 50 years ago in Japan, Kumon is an individualized after-school math and reading program for children from preschool to high-school. The program also helps kids who excel at school and want to further improve their skills.
Kumon has more than a dozen locations in Queens, including another one in Forest Hills on 69th Avenue, as well as in Middle Village, Elmhurst and Briarwood.
Li said there used to be a Kumon center in Kew Gardens, but it closed a couple of years ago, leaving a need for an after-school program in the area.
She said her daughter and two sons, ages 3 and 5, attend programs at her center.
Currently, the center holds classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.). There are plans to provide programs four days a week in the future, Li said.
“As we grow, we will expand to accommodate the students' needs,” Li said.
The center has the goal of helping 200 children.
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Kew Gardens is located at 114-67 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills. Monthly tuition is $130 per subject ($250 for both math and reading). For more information call (718) 793-6888 or go here.
