Past Grants

Baltimore City Public Schools – SummerREADS

For support of the second year of the 2012 SummerREADs book distribution program and summer reading for 2,000 second-, third-, and fourth-grade students attending high-poverty, low-performing public schools in Baltimore City. The program is designed to prevent literacy loss over the summer months. With support of teachers and family members, participating students are given 12 self-selected books at their reading level to encourage voluntary summer reading. An evaluation by Johns Hopkins University will compare 2011 and 2013 proficiency MSA reading scores among the participants.

Baltimore City Public Schools – National Academic League

For support of the 2012-2013 National Academic League (NAL), which involves 700 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students from 28 Baltimore City public middle schools in a year-long scholastic extracurricular activity. The NAL games function as competitive events, with after-school team practices two to three times a week under the guidance of teachers. Interscholastic competitions are held every two weeks. First- and second-placed teams compete nationally through video-conferencing. It is intended that participation will increase potential for acceptance into a Baltimore City selective-admission high school.

Baltimore City Public Schools / Baltimore City College High School

For capital expenses to replace window screens and carpeting in the band and choir rooms, repair locker rooms, and install fencing around the football field/track.

Baltimore City Community College Foundation, Inc.

For support of the new Aspiring Scholars Scholarship Program, which provides performance-based scholarships for 75 graduates of Baltimore City Public Schools entering Baltimore City Community College. The scholars are linked to a facilitator who ensures the students are registering for appropriate courses, familiar with their own performance levels, and referred to campus resources for support.

American Communities Trust

For implementation of the Baltimore Scholar Athlete Program in three Baltimore City Public Schools. Support is provided through counseling, coaching, mentoring, and SAT preparation. In each school, a dedicated resource space, known as the “Zone,” is equipped with laptops, printers, e-readers, Internet access, mailboxes, calculators, and electronic membership cards for student-scholars to use on a daily basis. Data are collected on attendance; GPA; athletic participation rates; and graduation, college-acceptance, and matriculation rates.