FOR MORE INFORMATION: Glenda Bernhardt Development Coordinator: Junior League of Charlotte [email protected] Tel: 704.375.5993, ext. 7 The Junior League of Charlotte Announces Partnership with The Larry King Center to Deliver Wrap-around Services at Reid Park Academy Charlotte, N.C. (February 6, 2013) – The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) is pleased to announce its JLC Cornerstone Project, Benefitting Families at Reid Park and Beyond - a partnership with The Larry King Center of the Council for Children’s Rights to support an innovative wrap-around community school model that will positively impact hundreds of children and families in Charlotte. The initiative will kick off at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ Reid Park Academy, with the intention of replicating and applying the intervention at other schools in the district in the coming years. Reid Park Academy is a Pre-K-8 school where more than 95 percent of the 750 students receive free and reduced lunch. Poverty can result in high absenteeism rates, low achievement rates and lower graduation rates. At Reid Park Academy, less than 50 percent of third graders read on grade level, and third grade reading scores are a key predictor of future academic success. Reid Park transitioned to the Pre-K-8 school in 2010 and is poised for great results from its students thanks to the hard work of Principal Mary Sturge and talented educators and staff. However, Sturge knows that “while the academic environment is important, big results hinge on the trust and relationships built between the neighborhood and school.” In January of this year, The Larry King Center, in partnership with CMS, Mecklenburg County and several key community agencies, launched a pilot program with Reid Park’s most at-risk students to focus on four core areas: early childhood education, parental involvement, health and mental health needs, and social service needs. Brett Loftis, children’s advocate and former Executive Director of the Council for Children’s Rights, believes “We can only expect to see change for children and families when we attend to all of their needs and not just the strength of their classroom experience.” The JLC’s support of this initiative will allow for the expansion of this pilot by providing funding for the infrastructure needed to implement it effectively. Five lead agencies (Communities in Schools, Thompson Child and Family Focus, Mélange Health Solutions, Charlotte Housing Authority, and Mecklenburg County DSS) have committed to provide Care Coordinators who work collaboratively with Student Success Network teams to provide family case management using a System of Care model. These Student Success Networks are comprised of individuals who represent dozens of faith-based organizations, civic and nonprofit partners (such as the JLC, New Birth Charlotte, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, and the YWCA) and others who are committed to the success of students and families who are part of this initiative. The Junior League of Charlotte has committed to raise $500,000 to support the JLC Cornerstone Project. This aligns with the JLC’s vision to be a leading force in improving the lives of children and families in this community. The grant will provide project management, volunteer coordination, program evaluation, model replication at future sites, and programming at Reid Park. The JLC will also provide $500,000 in-kind volunteer time over five years to support programming that will promote the physical, mental and dental health of children and families in the Reid Park community. For more information and to learn how you can get involved or contribute, please visit www.jlcharlotte.org or call (704) 375-5993. About the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community. Through its actions and leadership of trained volunteers, the JLC is a leading force in improving the lives of children and families in the Charlotte community. The JLC annually contributes more than $100,000 to community projects and more than 25,000 volunteer hours. During the 2011-2012 JLC year, the League dedicated more than $150,000 and almost 500 volunteers to the betterment of the Charlotte community. Projects that are supported by the JLC include: Junior League of Charlotte Family Resource Center at Levine Children’s Hospital, Kids HealthLink, JLC Smiles, Big Shots Saturdays, Junior League of Charlotte Puppet Theater and more. For additional information, call (704) 375-5993 or visit www.jlcharlotte.org. ####