January 6, 2012
Contact: Mike Bento
bentom@cisnet.org

Arlington, Va. – Communities In Schools, the leading organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, is proud to announce that several of its affiliates and state offices have been awarded nearly $2 million dollars in impact funds to apply to the 2011-2012 school year.

In the first quarter of FY 2012, $2 million was awarded to 12 state offices (including 65 of their state network affiliates) and 9 local network affiliates. The network requested funds to overwhelmingly support human capital in key areas (leadership - board development, executive directors, operations, and site coordinators). The funds were first given out in late 2008 with the ultimate goal of reaching deeper into schools and communities most heavily impacted by the dropout epidemic. Since that time, more than nine million dollars have been awarded to state offices and local affiliates to support them in meeting TQS standards, promote stability, and expand reach. 

The following is a list of the Fiscal Year ’12 winners and approximate amounts awarded:

Local Network Affiliates:

Cabell County                    $23,000
Chester County                 $12,500
Dorchester County           $23,000
San Fernando County      $22,810
Cedar Valley                      $12,500
Greenville                          $12,500
Kalamazoo                        $6,250
Lenawee                            $6,250
Tecumseh                         $6,250

State Offices:

Delaware    $47,788
    State Office    41,538
    Affiliate           6,250
Florida    $161,750
    State Office    95,000
    Affiliates (6)   66,750
Georgia    $356,750
    State Office       95,500
    Affiliates (15)    261,750
Kansas     $107,500
    State Office    95,000
    Affiliate           12,500
Iowa        $60,000
Nebraska        $25,000
    State Office    12,500
    Affiliate    12,500
New Jersey (Affiliate)       $12,500
North Carolina                   $444,500
    State Office       95,000
    Affiliates (23)    349,500
Pennsylvania    $65,000
    State Office    40,000
    Affiliate (3)      25,000
Texas        $312,500
    Texas Education Agency    252,300
    CIS of Texas Network         50,200
    CIS of Central Texas          10,000
Virginia     $50,000
    State Office    40,000
    Affiliate            10,000
Washington    $200,250
    State Office    98,000
    Affiliate (8)     102,250

“These grants will allow us to broaden our reach into the areas where children need us most,” said Communities In Schools President Daniel Cardinali. “Through this funding more of our affiliates have been given a greater opportunity to help reduce the nation’s dropout numbers, and ultimately empower more students to stay in school and achieve in life.”

The impact funds also support expansion of the Communities In Schools model of integrated student services.  

These awards were made possible in large part by a generous grant from the Robertson Foundation.

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  Through a school-based site coordinator, Communities In Schools connect students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.  Working in nearly 3,000 schools, in the most challenged communities in 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves more than 1.3 million young people and their families every year.  It has been shown through an independent evaluation to be the nation’s only dropout prevention organization proven to both increase graduation rates and reduce dropout rates.  Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

The Robertson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 by Tiger Management founder Julian H. Robertson, Jr., his wife Josie, and their family.  The Robertson Foundation aspires to utilize a pro-active, disciplined grant-making approach to measurably affect significant social change in the principal areas of education, the environment, medical research and religion & spirituality.  To learn more visit: www.robertsonfoundation.org.