BLUFFTON, December 22, 2005 — The Arthur M. Blank
Family Foundation today announced it is awarding more than $2
million in grants to eight organizations that are helping high
school students in Bluffton prepare for postsecondary education.
$1.2 million was awarded in the form of partial challenge grants
to be matched locally.
The grants were approved at a Blank Foundation board meeting held
in Bluffton November 21 through 23.
Pathways to Success is a partnership between Bluffton High School
and community groups working together to develop in-school and
out-of-school programs that support students as they progress
from high school to college and career opportunities. Bluffton
is one of three communities in the nation participating in the
initiative.
"Pathways to Success is giving more students at Bluffton
High School access to the resources and support services they
need to pursue the education and training that can help them achieve
their life goals," said Penelope McPhee, president of the
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. "Our grants are just a
beginning. We’re hoping the community can reach out to other funders
to make the program sustainable over the long term."
Organizations receiving grants from the Blank Family Foundation
are:
- Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry - $428,000 over three years
to support out-of-school activities focused on the social and
emotional development of Bluffton students. Club activities
fall within five core program areas: character and leadership
development, education and career development, health and life
skills, the arts and sports, fitness and recreation.
- Community Foundation of the Lowcountry $991,000 over three years:
- $153,000 to serve as an intermediary partner for the Bluffton Pathways collaborative by providing communications support and resource development, and serve as the fiscal agent for Bluffton High School.
- $838,000 to support programming at Bluffton High School including coursework ranging from biotechnology research to the arts and a high school transition coordinator who will work with two community partners University of South Carolina Beaufort and Strive to Excel to help Bluffton students develop long-term school and career goals.
- FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) - $75,000
to help Bluffton High School create a Robotics team and fund
the team’s participation in local and national competitions.
- Strive to Excel - $330,000 over three years to support out-of-school
postsecondary preparation activities including test preparation,
essay writing, transitional support, college research and trips
to visit colleges and cultural institutions in South Carolina,
North Carolina and Georgia. Strive to Excel provides the academic,
financial, and emotional support needed to prepare high school
students and their families for postsecondary life and career
choices.
- The Algebra Project - $115,000 to initiate mathematics literacy programs
that will serve all three Pathways sites (Atlanta, Bluffton
and Phoenix) by offering in-school, after-school and summer
training and instruction. The Project will also provide professional
development training for teachers through a two-week summer
institute focused on classroom instruction and teaching methods
as well as train college and high school youth to serve as math
literacy workers for elementary and middle school students.
- The University of South Carolina Beaufort - $239,000 over three years
for classes at Bluffton High School that will give students
interested in becoming pre-school teachers the opportunity to
receive credit in the university’s Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of Arts degree program. The grant will also support
Family University, an eight-week course covering topics such
as motivating teens, high school graduation requirements, the
postsecondary application process, and financial aid opportunities
that will be offered to parents and guardians of Bluffton students.
Additionally, USC Beaufort will have a transition coordinator
on staff responsible for researching undergraduate/graduate
options, licensures, certifications and other service options.
- Technical College of the Lowcountry - $187,000 over
three years to fund student participation in the Early College
Credit Opportunity (ECCO). Through this program, students can
earn up to 18 college credits toward the Technical College’s
General Education Certificate while attending Bluffton High
School.
"We thank the Blank Foundation and all of its partners for focusing on our students," said Aretha Rhone-Bush, principal of Bluffton High School. "These programs will go a long way in helping us make sure all of our students have the guidance and preparation they need to be successful after graduation."
Pathways to Success was created in 2004 to expand educational opportunities by providing high school students the support they need to pursue postsecondary education. It consists of collaborative partnerships that include high schools, community organizations, and higher education institutions in Atlanta, Georgia; Bluffton, South Carolina; and Phoenix, Arizona three communities in which the Blank family has roots.
Formed in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is focused on improving early childhood development, enhancing education, preserving green space, sustaining the arts and sparking collaboration among its nonprofit partners, primarily in Atlanta.
Arthur M. Blank is owner & CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia
Force. He co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement
retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in
2001. Through his generosity, the foundation, along with Blank and
his wife's personal giving, has granted over $220 million to various
charitable organizations.
