PHILADELPHIA – Nov. 12, 2015 – The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia will launch a new plan focused on promoting success in Philadelphia’s public schools as a way to encourage talented people to live and stay in the city. The plan is supported by $250,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
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“Fund for the School District of Philadelphia champions better public schools to help retain city’s talent” by Donna Frisby-Greenwood, 11/12/2015
A 2014 report from The Pew Charitable Trusts revealed a rise in the population of 20- to 34-year-olds in the city. However, half of the millennials surveyed as part of the report said that they “definitely or probably would leave Philadelphia within the next five to 10 years,” referencing a perceived lack of quality schools and child-rearing options as one of the main reasons.
The fund is committed to making a difference in the lives of 142,000 public school students in Philadelphia, by ensuring people invest in and support public education through public-private partnerships. It aims to create more opportunities for student achievement and improve the quality of education in public schools, as a way to help attract and retain talented millennials as they make residential decisions for their families.
Knight support will help the organization build its capacity and create a strategic marketing plan, along with communication tools to inform people about how they can support the fund’s mission. Specifically, the plan will allow the fund to share what is working in Philadelphia’s public schools and highlight the talented students who attend them. These stories of excellence and success will help to increase awareness about the work being done to support great schools in Philadelphia and get people involved in shaping education in their communities.
“Knight funding will help us build the infrastructure to create a community of informed investors in Philadelphia’s public schools,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, the new CEO of The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia. “As we champion the strategic priorities shown to propel student success, we need to help stakeholders understand why, how and when to make smart investments in our public schools.”
“By helping people understand and support the work being done to improve Philadelphia schools, the fund will explore new ways of encouraging people to build their lives and raise their families in Philadelphia,” said Carol Coletta, Knight Foundation vice president for community and national initiatives.
The plan will be led by Donna Frisby-Greenwood, president and CEO of The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, who previously served as Knight’s Philadelphia program director. Frisby-Greenwood was also responsible for launching and leading the Philadelphia school district’s Office of College and Career Awareness, an initiative that helped inform and prepare young students for higher education.
Support for The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia forms part of Knight Foundation’s efforts in Philadelphia to attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement. Since 2008, Knight Foundation has invested more than $33 million in Philadelphia.
For more information visit thefundsdp.org.
About The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
The Fund believes that all of Philadelphia’s public school children deserve an opportunity to become part of a strong, productive and sustainable future for our city. Our mission is to identify, coordinate, and connect philanthropic resources –through effective public-private partnerships – to leverage investments in local public schools. We target strategic priorities that have a measurable impact on the success of students regardless of Zip code, family income, or chance.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.
Contacts:
Barbara Grant, Managing Partner, Cardenas Grant Communications, 215-520-8849, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677, [email protected]