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Qwest Foundation Grant Gives Disadvantaged Youth an Academic Advantage

Grant Details
The Qwest Foundation, Qwest Communications’ philanthropic program, donated $5,000 to the Urban League of Portland to support the Centers for Academic Readiness and Success Program. The program provides intensive academic coaching to low-achieving middle school students, with the goal of improving academic achievement among low-income and minority students.

About the Centers for Academic Readiness and Success Program
Launched as a pilot program in February 2004, the Centers for Academic Readiness and Success program currently serves 45 students at Ockley Green Middle School in North Portland. Three coaches, who are certified teachers, each work with fifteen students in the classroom and during after-school tutorials three days each week. The coaches track the students’ progress through pre- and post-tests, daily behavioral and achievement reports, test scores and quarterly report cards. Overall test scores have shown significant improvement for students participating in the Centers for Academic Readiness Program.

Currently, the program focuses on math skills, but the Urban League hopes to incorporate reading and writing skills in the future.

About the Urban League of Portland
The Urban League of Portland is a nonprofit, community-based organization headquartered in North/Northeast Portland that serves the greater Portland metropolitan area. The League helps empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment and economic security through a combination of direct services, outreach and advocacy. Founded in 1945, the League is one of 104 affiliates of the National Urban League, one of the nation’s leading civil rights and social service organizations.

About the Qwest Foundation
The Qwest Foundation’s core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to the community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K-12 education and economic development.

The Qwest Foundation’s philosophy is to help build strong communities through investing in people and the places where they live and work. For more information, contact www.qwest.com/foundation.

Media Contacts:

Qwest
Melissa Reffel
303-896-3011
melissa.reffel@qwest.com

Urban League of Portland
Bernadette DeVito
503-280-2611
bdevito@ulpdx.org