TransCanada, a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure, granted Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School $300,000 over the next two academic years to provide comprehensive services to students in grades K – 3. Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School, the first charter school founded by The Children’s Aid Society, will open its doors in Morrisania, a section of South Bronx, in August 2012 offering students a rigorous academic program as well as a medical, mental health, dental and social services.
“The Children’s Aid Society believes that investments in communities with the greatest need for educational, health and social support can have the most direct impact on families living in poverty. I’m thrilled that TransCanada shares this outlook and is committed to jumpstarting the school with this generous support over these next two very important years,” said Richard Buery, President and CEO, Children’s Aid Society. “These funds will go long way toward helping us achieve the challenging goals that we have set for ourselves in Morrisania.”
The school will work to meet substantial needs in the Morrisania community, which has the highest rates of infant mortality and preventable hospitalizations in New York City. In Morrisania, 57 percent of children are growing up in poverty and because of this extreme level of deprivation students in the area have consistently fared lower than City averages on standardized exams in both reading and mathematics. Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School aims to address these unmet needs in the area.
“TransCanada is committed to being a good neighbor and the creation of this charter school is exactly the kind of community investment that we believe can have an overwhelmingly positive impact on a local community,” said Bill Taylor, Senior Vice President, TransCanada. “We are proud to be a part of this initiative that will be a beacon of innovation and change for so many children and families.”
The school aims to boost attendance rates, lower absenteeism, confront an extreme need for preventive medical services as well as develop a more effective academic program that includes intensive academic curricula and support services like after-school programming. For more information about Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School, visit www.childrensaidcollegeprep.org.
TransCanada’s grant follows support from The Charles Hayden Foundation - another early funder of Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School.
About TransCanada
With more than 60 years’ experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada’s network of wholly owned natural gas pipelines extends more than 57,000 kilometers (35,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent’s largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns or has interests in over 10,800 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America’s largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: www.transcanada.com and follow us on Twitter @TransCanada.
About The Children’s Aid Society
The Children’s Aid Society is an independent, not-for-profit organization established to serve the children of New York City. Our mission is to help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive supports to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Founded in 1853, it is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving New York’s neediest children. Services are provided in community schools, neighborhood centers, health clinics and camps. For additional information, please call Anthony Ramos at (212) 949-4938/ (917) 204-8214, email anthonyr@childrensaidsociety.org or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.
About Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School
The Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School is a Children’s Aid Society community school whose mission is to prepare elementary school students for success in middle school, high school, college and life by providing them with a rigorous instructional experience; addressing their physical, emotional and social needs; fostering a sense of pride and hope; and serving as a safe and engaging community hub.
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