KLC Makes a Difference in Your Community
Here Are Some of Our Stories
KLC Distributes Backpacks to Beach Elementary Students
On September 11, 2009, fifteen Knowledge Learning Corporation employees distributed 653 new backpacks filled with school supplies to Beach students. The employees joined the students for two assemblies and gave each of them their very own backpack – for many, the first one they have ever owned. Beach is the largest school in Schoolhouse Supplies' "Tools for Schools" program and is one of the highest needs schools in Portland. Over sixty percent of students receive free and reduced lunch, and nearly a quarter of them are English Language Learners. Many of the classrooms use a dual language immersion program. No matter the make-up of the student population, all of the students were excited to receive their backpacks.
This is KLC's second year partnering with Schoolhouse Supplies' "Tools for Schools" program to provide school supplies to Beach. KLC jumped at the opportunity to adopt Beach after they lost their original "Tools for Schools" sponsor right before the 2008-2009 school year began. The Knowledge Learning Corporation is proud to take on the challenge of providing for the biggest school in the program, and it looks forward to partnering with Beach in the years to come. David Roy, Director of Community Partnerships, commented, "This partnership is important for many reasons. One thing that is so great about it is that it is something good for children, good for teachers, good for the school, and good for parents as it takes the anxiety away from parents who would not be able to afford supplies for their children. We have a great group of employees, many in their second year of distributing backpacks, who consider this one of their favorite days of the year."
Read the Portland Public School News story: "Thousands of PPS students get free backpacks."
KLC's Facilities Team
Helps Denver Children's Home
As part of this year's Facilities Management Meeting held in Denver, Colorado, members of the KLC Facilities Team completed a community service project at the Denver Children's Home on April 23. The project included the installation of a climbing wall and rubber fall zone; a soccer field, goals and equipment; a new air hockey table; enhancements to the landscape; and a playground drinking fountain. A plaque commemorating KLC's contribution was installed along the climbing wall. At the end of the day, all of the volunteers from KLC signed the banner that was hung and left for the Denver Children's Home.
The project team consisted of the National Facilities Management Team, local Denver Facilities Technicians and a select group of corporate guests. The team also included 19 Facilities Technicians - members of our 2008 Hurricane Response Team who were instrumental in the preparation and repair of more than 200 centers impacted by last year's hurricanes and tropical storms. They were invited to Denver to attend the 2009 Facilities Leadership Conference where they were recognized for their outstanding contributions as members of our Hurricane Response Team.
The Denver Children's Home serves an average of 100 children and their families daily and is a safe place for emotionally distressed children, adolescents and their families to heal and grow. The home provides scholastic programs, music therapy and individual treatment plans.
KinderCare Kicks Off WonderWalk on Set of CBS Early Show
On May 19, approximately thirty KinderCare children, along with center staff and their parents, kicked off the national WonderWalk campaign on the set of the CBS Early Show. They waved signs and cheered as they drew attention to KinderCare's support of the March of Dimes.
KinderCare Participates in WonderWalk to Support the March of Dimes
On May 20, thousands of children at more than 1,700 KinderCare® Learning Centers across the country participated in the WonderWalk campaign to raise money for the March of Dimes.
"As KinderCare Learning Centers proudly supports March of Dimes in their fight to end premature birth, our WonderWalks provide an opportunity to share the importance of community service and charitable giving with the children in our care," said David Roy, Director of Community Partnerships. "Programs like this are an essential element of our curriculum as they promote valuable life skills including increased confidence and social responsibility."
Since 2000, hundreds of thousands of KinderCare families and employees have worked together to support a unified cause, raising more than $10 million in support of the March of Dimes. The program has become an integral part of KinderCare Learning Centers' ongoing efforts to encourage community service starting at a young age.
"KinderCare Learning Centers share our goal of giving all babies a healthy start in life and we thank them for their generous support of March of Dimes work to fund research, help moms, and support families," said Jennifer L. Howse, Ph.D., president of the March of Dimes. "Through WonderWalk, we are working together to help shape the next generation of community-minded volunteers."
KLC Delivers Supplies and Backpacks to 500 Children at Portland's Beach Elementary
Knowledge Learning Corporation, in partnership with Schoolhouse Supplies, recently adopted Beach Elementary in North Portland. Beach is a high-needs school, with more than 95% of its students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch. Beach also has a sizable percentage of homeless students.
KLC's adoption of Beach, through Schoolhouse Supplies' "Tools for Schools" program, meant every single child at Beach received a backpack filled with all necessary supplies for the year. KLC employees spent a Friday afternoon filling and organizing the backpacks, and those employees delivered the backpacks to Beach students at an assembly during the first week of the school year.
"We are thrilled to partner with Knowledge Learning Corporation for Tools for Schools 2008," said Gayle Kellman, Executive Director of Schoolhouse Supplies. "This partnership with Knowledge Learning Corporation, a leading national childcare and education provider, is an innovative story of the community collaborating to improve education in a major way."
KLC Once Again Supporting Children Through University of Oregon Scholarships
A KLC-created scholarship program for selected students in the Early Intervention Program at the University of Oregon (UO) College of Education will continue again in 2008-09. This graduate level program prepares students to expand and improve educational and therapeutic services for infants and young children who are at risk and disabled and their families. The KLC scholarships provide tuition, books, housing and/or student research support, and give the College of Education the opportunity to recruit and retain outstanding students who will go on in their professional lives to provide expertise in identifying and helping vulnerable children and their families, counsel with childcare providers, teachers, and physicians, and help families provide effective parenting and support.
KLC is also continuing its support of, for the third academic year, two Child Advocacy Project Fellows in the UO School of Law.
The UO School of Law Oregon Child Advocacy Project pursues systemic legal change to protect children's interests. The project does not represent individual clients. Instead, fellows work on legislative proposals and provide research assistance and consultation to attorneys that advance the goals of the project.
Each year, two to four UO law students are chosen to be KLC Child Advocacy Fellows, based on their demonstrated commitment to child advocacy, career plans, and academic achievement in law school.
KLC to Support Groundbreaking Research by Friends of the Children
Knowledge Learning Corporation is pleased to announce a five-year commitment to support groundbreaking research undertaken by longtime KLC community partner, Friends of the Children-Portland. This research is part of a National Institutes of Health-led longitudinal study of preventative intervention with high-risk children.
"Friends of the Children-Portland is honored to have Knowledge Learning Corporation's support for this longitudinal study. This high level of support from such a reputable corporate partner will be a key component of a long-term strategy of growth and sustainability here at Friends," says Ben Root, Director of Corporate Gifts at Friends of the Children.