Contact Information: Media Contacts: Jeremy Robinson-Leon (ph) 212.784.5702 Carolina Martin (ph) 415.730.8094 Mark Rigdon (ph) 212.270.9114
JPMorgan Chase Foundation Donates $605,000 to Education Projects Through DonorsChoose.org
Grant Will Support More Than 1,500 Classrooms and Benefit 39,000 Public School Students
| Source: DonorsChoose.org
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 30, 2009) - The JPMorgan Chase Foundation today announced
a grant of $605,000 to provide critical early literacy, math and science
resources for public school students across the country on
DonorsChoose.org. The funds will support 1,500 public school classrooms and
39,000 students, most of whom attend schools in low-income communities,
through DonorsChoose.org -- a nonprofit website connecting donors with
specific classroom needs in public schools.
"The JPMorgan Chase Foundation is proud to sponsor this grant, which was
initiated by a bank program that donated a portion of debit-card purchases
to benefit schools," said Mark Rigdon, VP, Director of Global Philanthropic
Strategy and Programs at JPMorgan Chase Foundation. "DonorsChoose.org is
one more innovative way we are tackling educational challenges in the
community. It helps provide the literacy, math and science resources that
students nationwide need to be successful in school and life."
The $605,000 grant represents funds that had been designated for public
schools through a debit-card program of Washington Mutual Bank, which
JPMorgan Chase acquired in September 2008.
DonorsChoose.org's focus on providing low-income students with the
resources they need to succeed makes the organization a natural partner for
JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
"DonorsChoose.org is thrilled that the JPMorgan Chase Foundation has
demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving our public schools,"
said Charles Best, Founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. "The JPMorgan Chase
Foundation family is undoubtedly an invaluable ally in our campaign to
expand educational opportunity. With this generous gift, DonorsChoose.org
will bring to life hundreds of early literacy, math and science classroom
projects."
About the JPMorgan Chase Foundation
The mission of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation -- the philanthropic arm of
JPMorgan Chase & Co. -- is to "Build vibrant, sustainable communities in
our markets across the globe that support, engage, and enrich the lives of
children, youth, and families." The mission comes to life through
investments in programs that focus on Community Development, Education and
Arts & Culture. Through its education investments, the Foundation seeks to
ensure that all children, particularly those from disadvantaged
backgrounds, have access to high quality educational opportunities.
About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public
school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students,
and donors can choose the projects they want to support. After completing
a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the
form of photographs and student thank-you letters.
To date, 88,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to
secure funding for $30.3 million in books, art supplies, technology, and
other resources that their students need to learn. Through
www.DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1.8
million students from low-income families.