SFU’s Friends of Simon tutoring project for Lower Mainland immigrant and refugee students received a Celebration of Community award March 9 at the Scotiabank & United Way Community Spirit Awards. The $2,500 award recognizes United Way-funded programs focusing on prevention or early intervention that have taken an innovative approach in responding to changing social conditions. Initiated by SFU’s Faculty of Education six years ago, Friends of Simon trains more than 50 SFU undergraduates each year as tutors. The project provides literacy support to more than 230 children through after-school, Saturday and summer programs at 13 schools and community agencies in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey.