Past Grants

Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies (ICJS)

Toward consulting fees in support of long-range planning, and to conduct independent evaluation in establishing models of greater interfaith understanding of ICJS programs aimed at increasing the organization’s effectiveness.

The Ingenuity Project

For support of the 2007-2008 Ingenuity Project, an intensive math, science, and research curriculum for BCPSS elementary, middle, and high school students. Launched in 1994 as a gifted and talented program, Ingenuity Project attracts students who receive superior math and science instruction and maintain high levels of student achievement, leading to acceptances into and substantial scholarships from highly selective colleges and universities.

Gilman School

For continued support of the 2007 Baltimore Independent School Learning Camp. The four-week summer camp offers 45 academically promising Baltimore City public school students entering third, fourth, and fifth grades the opportunity to participate in Gilman School’s learning environment. It provides individualized classes in language arts, geography, science, mathematics, and a foreign language as well as cultural and recreational activities. The goal is to reduce the loss of academic skills often suffered by the Baltimore City Public School System’s at-risk students during summer break by focusing on reading, writing, and math skills.

Fund for Educational Excellence

For expansion of the Math Works initiative, a professional training program for second-grade through seventh-grade teachers in Baltimore City public schools to help close the achievement gap. By using electronic textbooks and hosting best practices forums, teacher discussion and workshop, the program aspires to have 90 percent of Math Works schools achieve math scores at proficiency levels as determined by the State of Maryland.

Food Studies Institute

For expansion of the Food for Life program at charter schools: Hampstead Hill Academy, The Stadium School, City Springs, and Collington Square. Designed to encourage the exposure to nutritional foods, the year-long hands-on food-based curriculum stresses the importance of acquiring knowledge about vitamins, whole grains, labeling, fat and sugar content, the difference between fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and the importance of exercise. Students are taught how to prepare food using recipes from around the world. The program involves families in community meals and gardens. To evaluate the degree of overall academic performance and student behavior as the consequence of healthier food choice, graduate students from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health will document the effectiveness of the program, gauging obesity reduction and improving the general health of the children.