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Terms of Service

Welcome to Bay2Bay Foundation ("Bay2Bay," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, educational platform, and related services (collectively, the "Services"). Please read these Terms carefully before using our Services.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Bay2Bay Foundation's Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our Services.

2. Description of Services

Bay2Bay Foundation provides educational services including:

• Tutoring Platform: Connecting students with volunteer tutors for one-on-one educational support
• Student Portal: Dashboard for session booking, progress tracking, and educational resources
• Volunteer Portal: Platform for volunteer tutors to manage availability, schedule sessions, and track student progress
• Administrative Dashboard: Management tools for program oversight and analytics
• Communication Services: Email notifications, SMS alerts, and video conferencing integration
• Educational Resources: Curriculum materials and learning tools

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Age Requirements

• Students must be at least 13 years old to create an account independently
• Students under 18 require parental or guardian consent
• Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 years old
• Parents/guardians may create accounts on behalf of minor children

3.2 Account Information

• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account

3.3 Firebase Authentication

Our Services use Firebase Authentication for secure account management. By creating an account, you agree to Google's Firebase Terms of Service and acknowledge that your authentication data is processed according to our Privacy Policy.

4. User Conduct and Responsibilities

4.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe upon the rights of others
• Transmit harmful, offensive, or inappropriate content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the Services or servers
• Use automated systems to access the Services without permission
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Collect or harvest personal information from other users

4.2 Educational Environment

Bay2Bay Foundation maintains a safe, respectful educational environment. All users must:

• Treat all participants with respect and courtesy
• Maintain appropriate behavior during tutoring sessions
• Report any inappropriate conduct or safety concerns
• Follow all guidelines provided for virtual learning sessions

5. Volunteer Services

5.1 Volunteer Requirements

Volunteer tutors must:

• Complete our volunteer application process
• Undergo background checks as required
• Attend required training sessions
• Maintain appropriate qualifications and certifications
• Commit to minimum time requirements as specified

5.2 Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers agree to:

• Provide educational services in accordance with Bay2Bay's standards
• Maintain confidentiality of student information
• Report attendance and progress as required
• Follow all safety and conduct guidelines
• Participate in ongoing training and evaluation

6. Data Collection and Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy. By using our Services, you consent to:

• Collection of information as described in our Privacy Policy
• Use of Google Analytics for website analytics (Tracking ID: G-3SQDTNF9MY)
• Firebase services for authentication and data storage
• AWS SES for email communications
• AWS SNS for SMS notifications (where applicable)
• Storage of session data and educational progress

7. Third-Party Services

Our Services integrate with various third-party providers to enhance functionality:

• Google Firebase: Authentication, database, and hosting services
• Google Analytics: Website analytics and user behavior tracking
• Amazon Web Services (AWS SES): Email delivery, marketing communications, and transactional emails
• Amazon Web Services (AWS SNS): SMS notifications and alerts
• Video Conferencing Platforms: For virtual tutoring sessions
• Calendar Services: For session scheduling and management

Your use of these integrated services is subject to their respective terms of service and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the practices of third-party service providers.

7.1 AWS SES Email Communications Compliance

By using our Services, you agree to our AWS SES-compliant email communication practices:

• Double Opt-in Requirement: All email subscriptions require verification through AWS SES
• Explicit Consent: You must explicitly consent to receive marketing emails
• Unsubscribe Rights: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time
• Suppression Lists: We maintain AWS SES suppression lists for unsubscribed addresses
• Bounce and Complaint Handling: We automatically process email bounces and spam complaints
• Verification Records: We maintain records of all email opt-ins for compliance purposes

7.2 Email Communication Types

We send the following types of emails through AWS SES:

• Transactional Emails: Account notifications, password resets, session reminders (cannot be unsubscribed)
• Marketing Emails: Program updates, volunteer opportunities, educational content (can be unsubscribed)
• Verification Emails: Double opt-in confirmations and account verifications
• Administrative Emails: Important policy changes and system updates

8. Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 Bay2Bay Content

All content, materials, and intellectual property on our platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, software, and educational materials, are owned by Bay2Bay Foundation or our licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

8.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit to our Services. By submitting content, you grant Bay2Bay Foundation a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, modify, and display such content for the purpose of providing our educational services.

8.3 Educational Materials

Educational materials provided through our Services are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not redistribute, sell, or commercially exploit any educational content without express written permission.

9. Payment and Fees

Bay2Bay Foundation's core tutoring services are provided free of charge as part of our educational mission. Any premium services or materials that may require payment will be clearly disclosed, and separate terms may apply.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Our Services are provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind
• We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed $100 or the amount you paid for Services in the past 12 months
• We are not responsible for educational outcomes or academic performance

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bay2Bay Foundation, its officers, directors, employees, and volunteers from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of our Services or violation of these Terms.

12. Termination

12.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us at info@bay2bay.org.

12.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your access to our Services at any time for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Inappropriate conduct or behavior
• Failure to meet volunteer requirements
• Legal or safety concerns
• Extended inactivity

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Services ceases immediately. We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our Services or legal requirements. We will notify users of material changes by:

• Posting the updated Terms on our website
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Displaying prominent notices on our platform

Continued use of our Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Bay2Bay Foundation regarding your use of our Services.