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Staples Foundation for Learning Awards More Than $300,000 in Grants to Support Educational Programs for Disadvantaged Youth

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 09:01 CST

Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc., a private foundation created by Staples, Inc., (NASDAQ: SPLS) announced today it has awarded 31 grants totaling $310,800 to non-profit organizations dedicated to serving youth throughout the country. These organizations were selected for their commitment to providing educational and job skills programs that help at-risk youth develop the skills necessary to become responsible adults and community leaders.

"Staples Foundation for Learning's mission is to teach, train and inspire youth throughout the nation," said Ron Sargent, president of Staples Foundation for Learning and chairman and chief executive officer of Staples, Inc. "We are committed to supporting organizations that provide youth with innovative, educational programs that help them realize their full potential and become active members of their communities."

The foundation's newest grant recipients include:

Art 180, Richmond, VA --- $5,000 to enable at-risk youth to positively express themselves through art.

ArtReach, Denver, CO --- $10,000 to Arts Benefiting Kids that provides youth with after-school programs, workshops, performances and tours of local museums.

Artists for Humanity, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to Youth Run Arts Micro-Enterprise, which enables youth to gain artistic and job skills through the production of sculptures and design projects.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Boston, Boston, MA --- $15,000 to Young Leaders, which helps youth gain leadership, community service and job skills.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Denver, CO --- $10,000 to provide youth with photography, music mixing and movie making art education.

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northwest Towns of WNY, Buffalo, NY --- $2,500 to Project C.I.T.E., which provides technology skills to Club members.

Children's Museum of Maine, Portland, ME --- $6,900 to Youth Rangers, which recruits, trains and employs inner-city teenagers to work at the Museum.

Children's Restoration Network, Roswell, GA --- $10,000 to Project One on One, which provides children with mentors to increase their academic skills and career opportunities.

Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC --- $10,000 to ThinkCOLLEGE, which helps at-risk youth stay in school and attain life skills through college and career advisement.

Communities in Schools of Wilkes County, Wilkesboro, NC --- $10,000 to Stuff the Bus, a drive to purchase school supplies for 5,000 low-income students.

Cradles to Crayons, Quincy, MA --- $10,000 to Ready for School, which provides homeless and needy children with basic school supplies.

Creating an Environment for Success, Nashville, TN --- $14,000 to Youth About Business Summer Camp, an entrepreneurial summer program that teaches financial literacy and business skills.

DreamCity, Washington, D.C. --- $2,500 to Empowerment through Community Storytelling, which encourages inner-city youth to express themselves through art and theatre.

FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Newark, NJ --- $15,000 to Project Shadow Youth that provides African-American and Latino youth with academic and career training activities.

Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama, Birmingham, AL --- $10,000 to Latinas Y Que, which provides Latina girls with mentors from the Hispanic community.

Horizons for Homeless Children, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to Community Children's Centers, which provides homeless children and their parents with support services.

Jumpstart for Young Children, Chicago, IL --- $15,000 to Jumpstart Chicago that matches young children with college student mentors to enhance their language, literacy and emotional skills.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts, Boston, MA --- $10,000 to After-School Financial Literacy Education, which teaches disadvantaged youth about entrepreneurship and financial management.

Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and Adults, Denver, CO --- $2,500 to Computer Lab for Literacy that increases the computer literacy skills of students with developmental disabilities.

Latin American Association, Atlanta, GA --- $25,000 to Inspira!, an after-school program that improves Latino middle school students' academic achievement.

Louisiana State University Foundation, Baton Rouge, LA --- $10,000 to Developing Louisiana's Youth Through Entrepreneurship, which teaches high school students about entrepreneurship.

Make the Dash Count Foundation, Gig Harbor, WA --- $2,500 to South Sound Youth Board, which empowers youth to become the next generation of philanthropic leaders.

National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), San Francisco, CA --- $20,000 to Bay Area Schools Entrepreneurship Initiative, which provides low-income youth with experiential learning activities in entrepreneurship.

Off the Street Club, Chicago, IL --- $10,000 to an after-school program that provides at-risk youth with academic and recreational programs.

Phoenix Theatre, Phoenix, AZ --- $10,000 to Books Alive, which utilizes the performing arts to increase at-risk children's literacy skills and love of reading.

Red Hen Press, Granada Hills, CA --- $10,000 to Writing in Schools that provides students with poetry and fiction workshops.

Second Street Youth Center Foundation, Plainfield, NJ --- $6,400 to an after-school program that educates, enriches and develops inner-city children's computer literacy skills.

Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA --- $10,000 to the Youth Conservation Steward Program, which enables youth to develop their leadership, academic and environmental stewardship skills.

White-Williams Foundation, Philadelphia, PA --- $15,000 to College Connection, which helps at-risk high school students successfully transition from high school to college.

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, Williamstown, MA --- $3,500 to an environmental program that provides elementary students with instruction on wildlife, ecology and natural landscapes.

Working Classroom, Albuquerque, NM --- $10,000 to Academic Learning Center that improves at-risk youths' academic skills, creativity and diverse cultural experiences.

About Staples Foundation for Learning

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc. is to teach, train and inspire. Founded in 2002, the foundation has contributed nearly $12 million to national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning has also developed lasting relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Earth Force, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. In addition, Staples Foundation for Learning supports Ashoka, an organization that develops and supports social entrepreneurs around the world, in eight countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United States. For more information about the foundation or how to apply for a grant, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org.

Source: Business Wire

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