To quote the over-used (but it’s used over and over again for a reason) cliché, “It takes a village,” it truly does take a whole host of people and programs to strive to make sure that every student who walks through a school door this fall has the best opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed.
Now that my kids are off to school once again, this is the perfect opportunity to spend a moment reflecting on all that’s made possible by the support of education funders and the perseverance and creativity of nonprofits that serve our students.
For the facts and figure on education giving in our state, take a look at the Minnesota Council on Foundations’ Giving in Minnesota 2009 Edition.
To complement the data, I went looking for an education funder to highlight today and came across the Mardag Foundation’s recently published (online) 2009 annual report.
Like MCF, the Mardag Foundation, which is an MCF member, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009. Over that period, the foundation has granted more than $51 million to nonprofits, “a nice return on (founder) Agnes Elmer Ober’s original investment of $5 million,” writes foundation President Timothy M. Ober.
Reflecting the foundation’s focus on “improving the quality of life in Minnesota for children, seniors and other at-risk populations and for programs in education and arts,” here’s a sampling of the education-related grants Mardag made last year:
- The Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals’ Hands-on Teach-to-Learn program helps immigrant child-care providers learn how to ensure that the children they care for have the skills necessary to start kindergarten.
- Century College’s Preparing to Achieve a College Education (PACE) program gives low-income St. Paul juniors, selected because they have the potential to succeed in college but need extra support, the chance to take Century College classes for credit while receiving academic counseling and tutoring.
- The Saint Paul Foundation’s Words Work! initiative is an early literacy program that helps teachers through mentoring and professional development and sees parents as partners who reinforce reading at home.
- Admission Possible, dedicated to helping low-income high school students prepare for and earn admission to college, is launching an Alumni Services Pilot Program.
- Inver Hills Community College’s Access and Opportunity Center of Excellence offers services to generate academic success for underrepresented middle and high school students and their families by increasing high school graduation rates, strengthening college readiness, and developing collaborative relationships between high school and college teachers. Called Project Breakthrough, the center’s initiatives include five programs from one-day events with motivational speakers, active learning sessions and financial information for students and family members to Summer Bridge programs that provide college courses at no cost to underrepresented students the summer before beginning their first semester of college.
- The Minnesota Literacy Council’s is expanding its Adult Basic Education programs and services on St. Paul’s East Side.
As schools open a new year, my thanks to the many education funders and nonprofits they work with, who, like Mardag and the organizations noted above, are providing invaluable school supplies.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
