�I love working one on one , and Iwanted to reach kids who don ’ t have support , �she says . When Steve Looney , aNew �ork-based business consultant and education lobbyist , reached out to her on LinkedIn about heading up anonpro�t dedicated to connecting tutors with high-achieving , low-income students , she happily stepped up .

The nonpro�t , �dMom Scholars , is anew program that serves qualifying students from North �ersey . Its inaugural group of �scholars� this year includes nine students from �assaic , Morris , �ssex and Hudson counties . They ’ ve been paired with nine private college prep consultants from New �ersey , New �ork , �lorida and �hio who meet virtually with the students and help guide them through the college admissions process .

��ur goal is to provide students who couldn ’ t afford it with some of the guidance that privileged kids are getting left , right and center , � says Sonnenberg , aMontclair resident and �dMom ’ sexecutive director . College �can move you into the middle class , � she says . �It can have aprofound impact on your future . �The kids where that is going to make the biggest amount ofchange are the

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kids who are not already inthe middle class . They are the kids who often have the least amount of guidance , so that is motivating us . �

�dMom began its college coaching this spring , when high school students graduating in ���� were �uniors . �articipating students

receive eight hours of free , one-onone counseling . �olunteer tutors , whom Sonnenberg �nds through her membership in the Independent �ducational Consultants Association , assist high school students with personal essays , scholarship applications and the �ree Application for �ederal

COURTESY OF NEW MOON �HOTOGRA�HY