Kroger Details Education Grants
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Kroger Co.’s (NYSE: KR) Central Division has announced more than $5 million in K-12 education grants. The three-year strategy will help fund several organizations including Indianapolis Public Schools Education Foundation and Conner Prairie’s STEM Education programs.
March 17, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Kroger Co.’s Central Division continued a comprehensive, multi-year strategy focused on strengthening K-12 education at a 10:30 AM news conference this morning, hosted at Indianapolis Public Schools headquarters in Indianapolis. Local officials and leaders from many K-12 education organizations joined Kroger executives for distribution of $1,803,750 in grants and commitments for 2015. The following official shared remarks emphasizing the value of investments in education: IPS superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee.
Today’s contributions are part of a three-year strategic plan in support of K-12 education that includes thousands of hours of volunteer support and at least $5,316,250 in resource commitments in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (excluding the value of thousands of volunteer hours), plus donated advertising. This new round of commitments follows the successful completion of two previous multi-year K-12 education strategies that began in 2009. Today’s announcement represents an increase of $200,000 per year for 2015 and 2016, versus the total announced at last year’s event.
In 2015 Kroger’s three-year education strategy includes: $524,750 in commitments to 10 “best in class” partner organizations who have exceptional education programs; $50,000 to additional organizations through the Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF); $75,000 per year to two grant programs for local schools and libraries in support of classroom programs, teaching excellence and transformational leadership; up to $1.2 million per year for hundreds of local schools and preschools through the “Community Rewards” program and a book donation program intended to boost literacy in low-income households. This plan draws lessons from Kroger’s 132 years of support for local schools and libraries across the United States, but also reflects advice and guidance from community stakeholders. Kroger leaders have participated in more than 200 education-related meetings since 2007 as part of the company’s effort to make informed decisions and investments with student-centric measurable outcomes and a high rate of return.
Kroger participates in a broad-based community coalition focused on caring for children during out of school time called the Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF) in an effort to strengthen and reinforce the in-school aspects of Kroger’s K-12 education strategy, providing grants totaling $50,000 to 10 local organizations in 2014. SYPF has become a “best-in-class” model now being studied by other cities around the United States. Kroger will continue its participation in SYPF’s highly-effective collaboration in 2015 and 2016.
Kroger also will leverage its broad advertising access and experience to invest at least $50,000 in raising community awareness of the critical need for an urgent, strategic focus on K-12 education. Kroger’s leadership will continue quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy in support of education, while increasingly speaking out publicly as an engaged, collaborative corporate citizen. That includes a new program this year, the adoption of an IPS school, John Marshall High School. Kroger will focus on helping John Marshall students graduate, continue their education and seek rewarding careers.
Kroger Quote:
According to President of Kroger’s Central Division Jeff Burt, “Strong support of education is an important responsibility for Kroger as a dedicated corporate citizen. Through today’s more than $5 million in commitments, we are determined to have a strong, positive and measurable impact on students’ core skills. Kroger is pleased to continue evolving our commitments to education through best in class partners who continue to excel, as well as adding new programs in 2014. We look forward to the catalytic impact of these investments in education and our own workforce of the future. Most importantly, we look forward to celebrating the academic success of children in the local communities we serve. We also call on our elected officials, corporate citizens, professional educators and parents to join the dialogue and actively take part in ensuring Indiana has the finest education system in this nation. As adults, we must do our homework, find our voice and speak out to protect not only the economic and workforce success of future generations, but the quality of life of successive generations.”
Kroger K-12 education grants and commitments for 2014-2016 include:
1. Kroger’s 30-year partner school, Daniel Webster Family Academy IPS School 46 will continue to receive thousands of hours of volunteer support by associates from 98 local stores and the division office valued at more than $30,000 per year, as well as $50,000 in support for academic programs, teacher training, rewards and recognition and meeting basic needs. Kroger will continue to provide up to $20,000 in scholarships annually to School 46 students. (total investment of $100,000 per year = $300,000)
2. Support of the Indianapolis Public Schools Education Foundation, bringing state-of-the-art education technology to IPS School 46 classrooms (investment of $34,000 per year = $102,000)
3. Local school and library grants up to $5,000 each in local communities that have Central Division stores. Grants support programs or activities focusing on: core math, science, reading or writing skills for students using content, methodology and processes consistent with state standards; or teachers and local school leaders who demonstrate transformational, entrepreneurial, measurable results in their schools (total investment of $75,000 per year = $225,000)
4. Scholarships for children of Kroger associates (investment of $25,000 per year = $75,000)
5. Increased support of hundreds of local schools, church-based education programs and other local education programs via the “Community Rewards” program (investment of up to $1 million in 2014 and $1.2 million per year in 2015 and 2016 = $3.4 million)
6. Support of Children’s Museum “Power of Children” grants (investment of $11,000 per year = $33,000)
7. Support of Conner Prairie’s STEM Education programs, including costs associated with participation in the Curiosity Fair (investment of $20,000 per year = $60,000)
8. Sponsorship of the Indiana Historical Society’s traveling education exhibits and related programs, including volunteer and promotional support (investment of $30,000 per year = $90,000)
9. Support of United Way of Central Indiana’s “ReadUp” program (investment of $50,000 per year = $150,000)
10. Support of Project SEED to improve math skills for students and teachers (investment of $50,000 per year = $150,000)
11. Support of summer reading and STEM programs of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library (investment increased to $20,000 per year = $60,000)
12. Sponsorship of the Indianapolis Marion County Spelling Bee in partnership with IUPUI and the Indianapolis Rotary Club (investment of $7,500 per year = $22,500)
13. Support of Teacher’s Treasures, including cash support, free use of a store location and donated school supplies (investment of $140,000 per year = $420,000)
14. Support of Lemonade Day that includes matching charitable donations by three award-winning youth entrepreneurs and the use of Kroger store locations (investment of $7,500 per year = $22,500)
15. Support of the Indiana Youth Institute’s statewide guidance counsellor and school leadership conference (investment of $15,000 per year = $45,000)
16. Each year when the Indiana Department of Education selects their teachers of the year, Kroger will provide unrestricted mini-grants to those teachers as follows; $1,000 to the top teac