The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Announces $185,000 in New Grants

/PRNewswire/ -- Trustees of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have awarded grants totaling $185,000 to nonprofit organizations working to improve education in Georgia.

The investments include a two-year $75,000 award to Quality Care for Children, an Atlanta nonprofit organization that will use the funds to implement a Shared Services Alliance. By pooling resources and strengthening buying power, the Shared Services Alliance will help childcare centers across 46 counties cut costs, streamline administrative processes and improve quality of care.

"With these grants, the Foundation is deepening its commitment to providing high-quality education to every young child in Georgia, regardless of their family's economic situation," said Foundation President Penelope McPhee. "Georgia's economic future rests on raising the bar on education, starting with our youngest children from birth through pre-K."

In addition to improvements that will enhance their efficiency, members of the new alliance will also benefit from new services for children and families. In particular, alliance members will gain access to discounted food, payroll services, marketing assistance and training.

The Foundation's trustees also approved grants to:

Teach for America

$50,000 to expand the Georgia initiatives of this national nonprofit that trains outstanding college graduates to commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools. Teach for America will recruit and place 25 new teachers in early childhood education programs and expand its K-12 teaching corps in Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb and Clayton school systems.

Emory University

$50,000 challenge grant to provide a six-week math and science summer residential program for 72 Atlanta high school students in 2010 and 2011. Students receive intensive instruction in chemistry, biology and math and preparation for college-entrance exams.

VOICES for Georgia's Children

$10,000 to identify and analyze financial models for future investment of state lottery funds in support of Georgia's Pre-K program and the HOPE Scholarship. At present, state lottery proceeds fund both the HOPE Scholarships and Georgia Pre-K programs. Economic forecasts indicate that by 2012 lottery funds will be unable to support both programs fully.

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