FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples Foundation, a private foundation created by Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), announced today it has awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 112 non-profit organizations serving at-risk youth throughout the country. Staples Foundation selected these organizations for their commitment to providing youth with the skills and resources needed to become responsible and caring citizens.
While the grants support a wide range of programs that help youth realize their full potential, 70 percent of the 2011 grant recipients will use the funding to address two key areas: education and literacy. More than 20 percent of the grants will support mentoring and life skills initiatives, and 10 percent will support environmental programs and services for youth with disabilities.
“Staples Foundation is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where our associates live and work, and supporting these organizations is making a difference in the lives of young people,” said Amy Shanler, director of community relations for Staples, Inc. “Through these grants, disadvantaged youth nationwide have access to innovative, educational programs that help them reach their full potential and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
As part of Staples’ commitment to supporting local communities, Staples associates are encouraged to nominate educational non-profit organizations in their own communities to receive funding from Staples Foundation. This year, nearly 60 percent of Staples Foundation grants awarded were to non-profit organizations recommended by Staples associates. These organizations reflect the Foundation’s mission to support organizations that provide job skills and education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.
The complete list of non-profit organizations awarded Staples Foundation grants includes:
Arizona
Literacy Volunteers of
Coconino County
Arkansas
Darby Junior High
School
California
After-School All
Stars; Independent Means; Students for the Advancement of Global
Entrepreneurship; United Through Reading
Colorado
Boys & Girls Clubs of
Metro Denver; Impact on Education; Women’s Vision Foundation
Connecticut
Unified Theater
District of Columbia
National
Environmental Education Foundation
Florida
AMIkids; Boys & Girls
Clubs of Sarasota County; National Foundation for Teaching
Entrepreneurship; Take Stock in Children
Georgia
Southeastern Natural
Sciences Academy
Illinois
Illinois College
Advising Corps
Iowa
North Iowa Community
College Foundation
Kentucky
School to Work Council
Maryland
Aid for Africa;
National Aquarium, Baltimore
Massachusetts
Advanced Math &
Science Academy Charter School Foundation; Ashland Education Foundation;
Assumption School; Ayer Education Foundation; Billy Dalwin Preschool of
Temple Emunah; Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center; Bottom Line; Boys &
Girls Clubs of MetroWest; Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County; Bridge
Elementary School; Bridge Over Troubled Waters; BUILD – Greater Boston;
Century Chinese Language School; Child Rights and You America; Civic
Education Project; Cradles to Crayons; Crossroads School for Children;
Duxbury Educational Foundation; Federation for Children with Special
Needs; Franklin Education Foundation; GAIN@GUS at Glen Urquhart School;
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts; Growing Places Garden Project;
Haynes Organization of Parents, Inc.; Home for Little Wanderers;
Horizons at Dedham Country Day School; John F. Kennedy Library
Foundation; Junior Achievement of New England; Junior League of Boston;
Laurie C. Tinsley Memorial Scholarship; Learning Center for the Deaf;
Lighthouse Academies; Loring School Parent Teacher Organization;
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities; Mather Elementary School;
Medfield Afterschool Program; Miracle League of Massachusetts; More Than
Words; Nativity Boston, Inc.; One Home for Many Hopes; Operation
Outreach; Palmer Monson Family Network; Prep@Pingree at Pingree School;
Quinsigamond Community College; Realizing Children’s Strengths; Saint
Raphael Parish School; Samaritans; Seven Hills Clinical Associates;
Shrewsbury Education Foundation; South Boston Neighborhood House; St.
Vincent’s Home; Taunton Early Intervention Program; Technology for
Autism Now; Westborough Education Foundation; Westborough Special
Education Parent Advisory Council; Wilmington Education Foundation;
Winthrop Improvement and Historical Association; Worcester Community
Action Council; Wrentham Elementary Schools Trust, Inc.; Year Up
Minnesota
Minnesota Humanities
Center
Missouri
Bridging the Gap; Kids
In Motion
Nevada
Las Vegas Public
Education Foundation
New Jersey
Bergen Performing
Arts Center; One Simple Wish
New Mexico
Junior Achievement
of New Mexico
New York
New Agenda; Rainforest
Alliance; St. Francis College
North Carolina
Arts Council of
Fayetteville; Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation
Ohio
Crayons to Computers;
Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland; Jobs for Cincinnati Grads;
Marvin Lewis Community Foundation
Oregon
Nearby Nature; Northwest
Youth Corps
Pennsylvania
Lakeside
Educational Network
Rhode Island
Paul Cuffee
School; St. Vincent's Home
Tennessee
Facing History and
Ourselves
Texas
Student Conservation
Association
Utah
Boys & Girls Clubs of
South Valley
Vermont
Southwest Autism
Research and Resource Center
Virginia
Junior Achievement of
Central Virginia
Wisconsin
Common Wealth
Development
National
Ashoka; Boys & Girls
Clubs of America; Hispanic Scholarship Fund; Initiative for a
Competitive Inner City
About Staples in the Community
Staples contributes to educational and youth-oriented community efforts, from literacy and mentoring to career skills development, through in-kind and monetary donations and grants from Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. Through its community relations efforts, Staples and Staples Foundation have helped more than 6,000 organizations in 2,000 communities across 27 countries. Community relations is also an integral component of Staples Soul, which recognizes the connection between long-term business success and the impact Staples has on associates, communities and the planet. For more information, visit www.staples.com/community.