“When I was growing up, having a safe space to be and someone who cared about me made all of the difference in the world. At Cape May Cares, I want to bring forward those ideals and help these kids by providing them with education and experiences that could be the extra boost they need.” – Keith Lafferty, Cape May Cares Founder & Chairman
I am a retired registered nurse. I was a nurse case manager for traumatic brain injured patients for 11 years. Most recently I worked for MHID (Mental Health for Intellectually Disabled), a grant funded program for 14 years.
My husband and I own Donnahouse Inc. for 20 years renovating and rehabbing houses. I retired to Cape May in 2022 and started tutoring with Cape May Cares. Education has always been very important to me and I love working with children.
This is an outstanding program and benefits both the students, their families and the tutors!
Hello! I moved to Villas in 2020 from Connecticut where I was a teacher and librarian for 21 years. This beautiful area has provided many new hobbies and activities for me, as well as an ideal area to enjoy my favorite hobby, photography. I have found a “home” at Cape May Lutheran Church, where I participate in many activities. I love tutoring, especially Dana, because it offers me a chance to continue teaching and has introduced me to a wonderful group of caring people! I am happily married, with 2 sons, terrific daughters in law and 3 beautiful grandchildren!
Having been a resident of Cape May for the past 61 years and having married a Cape May man, we have always had our community at heart. We have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren and care very much about their future as well as all the children in our community. I have previously served on 2 school boards – Cape May City Elementary school for several years and Cape May County Special Services for 16 years. I have found the Cape May Cares tutoring program very rewarding and I thoroughly enjoy the youngster I tutor!
Being a tutor is so much more than just educating students. It is making connections and watching the child grow. I have been in the education field for over 10 years now. Having started with just a high school diploma. I now have a Master’s in Early childhood education as well as a Master’s in special education. I love watching students have that moment of clarity. Finding ways that work for them. Then showing them how to use that to their advantage. Being a tutor at cape may cares means I get to give back and reap the rewards!
I had the privilege of working for the Lower Township Elementary School District for 34 years. My career allowed me to share my joy of learning with my students and to empower and enrich their lives. After retiring in 2010, I put my energy into volunteering in the community. I was fortunate to find Cape May Cares and become involved in the tutoring program. This experience has opened the door to revisit the connection between a student-teacher relationship and the joy it brings to my life.
Annette Lare holds an AS degree in Education of Hearing Impaired and a BA degree in Childhood Education K-12, being dual-certified in both traditional and special needs education. Annette taught her first two years in Jefferson County School District of Louisville, Kentucky and an additional twenty-five years for the Maurice River Township Board of Ed in Port Elizabeth, NJ. Together with her husband Kevin, Annette raised two children in the Cape May community. They are the founders and administrators of the Luke Lare Foundation, which awards college scholarships to deserving local seniors who are also avid lacrosse players.
Math Tutor specializing in Algebra and Geometry. I especially enjoy working with students in Junior High and High School. Over thirty years in education. Recent recipient of the state of New Jersey’s Unsung Hero in Education Award. I have volunteered with Cape May Cares for several years. The benefit that I receive from the tutoring far exceeds anything that I am able to give. I have dedicated my professional life to teaching and caring for children. I am very fortunate to be part of this program.
Has lived in Cape May for 34 years and is a life-long lover of education and travel. Her teaching career spans many cities and school districts; from Princeton, NJ , Trenton, NJ and Cape May. Mary Ann’s love of teaching lead to earning a BA in English, a MA of education and many credits toward a Bilingual/Multicultural certificate. She enjoyed 10 years with the College of NJ adjunct facility. Mary Ann was voted Cape May Elementary’s Volunteer of the year 2011-2012. “I love tutoring and am proud to be part of the education mission of Cape May Cares.”
Since retiring from teaching in 2019, I was looking to fulfil my need to help children and get back into the schools-CMC turned out to be the perfect fit. I was employed for over 20 years teaching at the elementary school level in the Pennsbury School District. My proudest achievement in education was pioneering the inclusion classroom model in a first-grade classroom in the Pennsbury School District. My greatest enjoyment comes from practicing yoga, traveling, and most especially, spending time with my family.
Linda Riccio has done residential design work in Boston, DC and mainline Pennsylvania as well as serving as a national sales manager for a multi-line fabric company, but her true passion lies with helping others in need. Having received her educational degree from West Chester University, Linda taught in a kindergarten literacy program, working to build confidence and problem-solving skills in children. Prior to her volunteer work with Cape May Cares, Linda dedicated nine years to Branches Outreach, working with Cape May County’s homeless and developing an advocacy program which continues to serve the county’s marginalized community today.
My favorite day of the week is Thursday because I get to come tutor 2 wonderful girls for Cape May Cares! We laugh, we share, we talk and we learn. Teaching is never a one way street and I have learned so much about different cultures, different families, different perspectives and new math…
We all need a little extra help sometimes and I’m very happy to encourage, support and offer guidance to the children through Cape May Cares.
I was born in Philadelphia Pa. and grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ. My husband and I have 3 children and permanently moved to the Cape May Area in 2004. My profession was a Registered Nurse. However, I have had many opportunities to be a teacher through church and community programs The circle of teaching grew from my own children to many other children, teens, young adults and seniors. I enjoy the company of people of all ages and I especially cherish my time with children. They warm my heart and refresh my spirit.
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher. I thought I wanted to be a gym teacher, and then I considered music education. Finally I chose elementary education and graduated in 1975 from Trenton State College with a K-8 certification. I began teaching at Cape May City Elementary School that same year where I taught for 40 years. Now that I’m retired, Cape May Cares has extended my opportunity to teach each week. I feel especially fortunate to work with my wonderful student, Jaliyah, whose interest and warm-heartedness is a blessing to me!
Anne Marie always loved Cape May and moved to the area permanently in 2014. The highlight of her life is traveling and sharing her love of learning and adventures with her five grandchildren. Anne Marie had a career in sales and marketing for Senior Living and enjoys working with people of all ages. She currently works in local real estate. Anne Marie heard about Cape May Cares at the Cape May Library Book Brigade and was thrilled to find a place to share her love of learning with the children in the community through tutoring.
My career as a teacher made the decision to tutor an easy one. I taught High School History in Edison, N.J. but I love children of all ages. I moved permanently to Cape May after retiring in 2017. The Cape May Cares Tutoring program has kept me involved with working with teaching and children. Co-tutoring two amazing brothers with a dear friend has been a phenomenally fulfilling and rewarding experience.