The way a group of Kennedy High School seniors see it, they're helping fellow students get their work done, while helping us all with our work in the fight against cancer.

Tutors For A Cure is a non-profit founded about a year ago by Kennedy students Jordan Horowitz, Samantha Finkel, and Class of 2012 valedictorian Ross Iscowitz. They head a group of tutors that offer their services to grades K to 12. Any subject, any age, any time. The tutors get paid for their time and students in need get extra help with their studies.

That formula is nothing new, but Tutors For A Cure adds a charitable twist. Twenty percent of all proceeds go straight to the American Cancer Society as they continue to search for a cure.

"It's a way of helping students at our school, and now other schools while also helping those afflicted with [cancer]," Iscowitz said.

The group charges $25 an hour for tutoring. It can be at the student's home, or perhaps Kennedy or the public library. Of each payment, $5 goes to cancer research.

"In order to get a professional tutor, it's $80, $90, even $100 dollars," Iscowitz said. "We wanted to give kids an affordable rate with probably the most elite group of students in the school."

The group has already raised more than $1,000 and is already looking to expand. They've started to work with students outside the district, and hope Tutors For A Cure chapters can be established nationwide. The Kennedy tutors believe this is the first 'tutor for charity' group of its kind, and want everything to go through them: where the money goes, who benefits and who gets to act as a tutor.

"Some people may have the intelligence, but they may not have the people skills to be a tutor and be able to teach, not just tell them what's going on," Finkel said, adding all prospective tutors are screened for what subjects they know best and are often recommended by teachers.

It was the personal experiences that also drove the trio to form Tutors. Jordan's uncle passed away from cancer and Ross' grandmother is a survivor, as is Samantha's mother.

"We love our academics, our school careers," Finkel said. "And we love our family. Unfortunately, they were affected by cancer."

"We all help each other in class [with peer tutoring], it's very benefical, so we thought why don't we start an organization that can help [others] and also give back," Horowitz adds.

The group hopes they have laid the foundation for a thriving organization locally. They are moving on to college next year, but will keep an eye on the next wave of tutors to make sure the high standards of tutoring remain in place.

"We have kids that are younger than us that we know are trustworthy and intelligent enough that can run the program while we're away," Horowitz said.

While boosting up those report cards or Regents scores is a big plus, its founders say the top priority of Tutors For a Cure will never get lost in the shuffle: Finding a cure for cancer.

"It's going to leave a lasting impact on Kennedy," Finkel said.

And as word spreads about these Cougars' efforts, perhaps a whole lot farther than that.