About Exceed the Odds: a nonprofit for kids who learn differently
We bring tutoring, dyslexia support, skills coaching and school advocacy together in one place, in one-on-one and small-group sessions, so families get the whole picture instead of chasing help from five directions. Grants, sponsors and donors fund a sliding scale for families who qualify, so more children can get the help they need.
Our mission
To give every child the reading and learning support they need to thrive, no matter their situation.
Children learn best when help is clear, steady and respectful. We set practical goals, celebrate what each child already does well, and keep families in the loop every step of the way.
Parents know their children best. We listen first, explain things in plain words, and stand with you when it is time to talk with your child's school.
What guides our work
Built around each child
Goals and teaching methods are shaped around how your child learns, not a one-size plan.
Families as partners
You help set the goals, and you always know how your child is doing.
Skills for real life
Strategies children can use at school, at home and in the community.
Strengths first
We see ability, dignity and possibility in every child, not only the hard parts.
Our leadership team
Meet the people behind Exceed the Odds
A small founding team with different strengths and one shared goal: helping every child get the support they need to thrive.
Gavin Filmer
Chief Executive Officer
Gavin has spent his whole life beating the odds. Born deaf, he couldn't speak until age five, and he grew up with auditory and language processing disorders and ADHD. He was often pulled out of class and knows how isolating school can feel.
Gavin went on to earn a degree in Marketing and Business Management, with a minor in Finance, from Eckerd College. He is now pursuing a Master's in Nonprofit Management. He founded Exceed the Odds to give struggling learners the support he wished he'd had.
"The way you learn isn't a weakness. It's part of what makes you strong. With the right support, there's no limit to where you can go."
Laura Rich
Chief Operating Officer
Laura has spent the last few years as a dyslexia therapist. Between her own kids and her students, she has seen how many different ways learning can happen. She knows how isolating school can feel when nobody believes you are trying.
Laura is a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist and is pursuing a Master of Education in Education Technology and Instructional Design. She co-founded Exceed the Odds so that every struggling learner has somebody in their corner who believes in them.
“I have never met a student who could not learn. I have met plenty who stopped believing they could. My job is to give that back.”
Rendell Rich
Chief Technology Officer
Rendell is a father of five, and he knows how much the behind the scenes work matters to a family. A parent should be able to log in, find what they need, and trust that their child’s information is safe. That takes a backend built with care.
Rendell brings more than eight years in data and operations and is completing a Master of Science in Data Science at Purdue University. As Chief Technology Officer he built the website, the portals, and the secure systems behind Exceed the Odds.
“Families are trusting us with their kids. The systems holding that information should be simple to use and built to protect it.”
The team around your child
Behind every plan is a coordinated team, so your child's tutor and advocate are working toward the same goals.
Tutors and reading specialists
Turn learning goals into clear, encouraging one-on-one lessons.
Family advocates
Help you prepare for school meetings and understand your options.
Program operations
Keep scheduling, updates and family support running smoothly.
How we are funded
Grants, local sponsors and individual donors fund our sliding scale, so families who qualify pay less for the same quality of care. Every gift goes toward sessions, learning materials and family support.
See ways to giveGovernance and privacy
An independent board guides our mission and holds us accountable. Family information stays private, and we only collect what we need to help your child.
Meet our boardRecognized by the International Dyslexia Association
Exceed the Odds is recognized by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Our reading support follows structured literacy, the approach the IDA recommends for students with dyslexia.
How our reading support worksWant to help children exceed the odds?
We welcome tutors, volunteers and board members who share our mission.