The School District of Philadelphia
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Wal-Mart Foundation Donates Gift Cards To Teachers In Philadelphia's 85 Empowerment Schools
Philadelphia, PA -- The School District of Philadelphia today announced it has received $213,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation as part of a special partnership to bring an early holiday gift to teachers and students in the District’s 85 Empowerment Schools.
The Wal-Mart Foundation is providing each of the nearly 4,300 teachers at the identified schools with a $50.00 Wal-Mart gift card to purchase school supplies for their classrooms.
"Many parents don’t realize that when school budgets are lean, teachers often dip into their own pockets to purchase supplies needed in the classroom,” Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said. “This generous gift from the Wal-Mart Foundation will directly benefit our students and the teachers who work hard every day to provide exciting learning opportunities for children."
The gift cards can be used at any Walmart store in the nation and they will be distributed to Empowerment School teachers in early January 2009.
"Wal-Mart has always made education a primary focus of our charitable outreach," said Hank Mullany, senior vice president and president of the northeast division of Walmart Stores. "We are proud to partner with the School District of Philadelphia and honor these teachers who serve as mentors and role models to the students who will be our future leaders."
Knowing that the Wal-Mart Foundation frequently supports educational initiatives and programs, Governor Rendell reached out on the District’s behalf in the fall of 2008. Governor Rendell’s hope was to facilitate a partnership between the two entities and aid the public elementary, middle and high schools that struggle to provide supplies to their teachers and students. Governor Rendell explained the challenges the School District of Philadelphia faces and put the pieces in place to make Wal-Mart’s contribution possible.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, School Reform Commission (SRC) Chairwoman Sandra Dungee Glenn, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, Benjamin Franklin High School teacher Desmin Daniels, representing Empowerment School teachers; and Hank Mullany, senior vice president and president of the northeast division of Wal-Mart Stores, joined Governor Rendell at the School District of Philadelphia’s Education Center to accept a ceremonial check from Wal-Mart.
"This generous contribution from the Wal-Mart Foundation is great news for the School District," Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said. "Bringing together public and private institutions together to address the education needs of our children represents critical progress for Philadelphia and I hope this is one of many partnerships of its kind. I applaud the Wal-Mart Foundation for stepping up to help our teachers this holiday season."
"On behalf of the SRC, I am heartened by this show of support for our teachers and students," SRC Chairwoman Sandra Dungee Glenn said. "This is certainly a wonderful holiday present to the School District of Philadelphia."
"I would like to thank Wal-Mart’s for such a generous contribution to our teachers at this busy time of year," said School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman. "This type of corporate commitment to education is at the heart of the District’s Core Beliefs that children come first and that it takes the entire community to ensure the success of its public schools."
Ackerman, who became Superintendent on June 2, 2008, immediately unveiled a strategic improvement plan for 85 under-performing elementary, middle and high schools, called Empowerment Schools. According to the federal guidelines of No Child Left Behind, these 85 schools have failed to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress status for a number of consecutive years, and remain classified as Corrective Action schools. To accelerate achievement in these 85 Empowerment Schools, they are receiving increased resources, additional school personnel and support from both district and regional offices.
The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the nation by enrollment with more than 280 schools, 165,000 students and more than 10,000 teachers.
The Wal-Mart Foundation has made education a philanthropic focus. Over the years, Wal-Mart has given more than $67 million to fund continued support of students and opportunities in post-secondary education. Much of this giving is done on the local level, and in 2007 Wal-Mart contributed and raised a total of $12.4 million in Pennsylvania for charitable causes and donated $7.8 million in in-kind contributions.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.