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Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania (CISEasternPA) announced this morning that the local affiliate is one of forty in the Communities In Schools network to receive funding from philanthropist, Mackenzie Scott.
Tim Mulligan, president and CEO of CISEasternPA, said students in the Lehigh Valley and Berks region will receive $3,3 million of a $133.5 million unrestricted grant from the Scott Foundation.
“The news was truly humbling, and we are grateful for the trust and confidence placed in our programs to impact the lives of even more students and families,” Mulligan said.
The agency, which serves 37,000 students in 40 schools across 10 districts, works to remove nonacademic barriers that keep students from achieving academically and in life, according to the organization.
While plans are far from finalized, Mulligan said the goal of the organization is to grow operational excellence to better build sustainable systems inside schools, conduct effective advocacy, and empower more students to move beyond the barriers they face in school and out. The grant comes at a time when many area nonprofits face budget concerns during a global pandemic.
“This generous investment is the largest in CISEasternPA history, which started serving area youth nearly 40 years ago,” stated Maria Esposito, vice president of advancement for CISEasternPA. “The gift is a testament to our organization’s success at creating donor value through significant measured outcomes. The funds will allow us to broaden and deepen our commitment to children, ensuring long term sustainability and excellence for our programs.”
“CISEasternPA services schools in the third and fourth largest Title I districts in the state behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – Reading and Allentown. In the coming months, we will work closely with our board to determine strategies with a focus on expanding and accelerating efforts to build more transformative relationships with students. This influx will help make some hard funding decisions a little easier, but our goal to reach the most deserving students in the region requires continuous support,” Mulligan said.