To stem the loss of learning that takes place in school age children during the summer vacation months, Pawtucket, RI based branded play company Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) and United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) have established the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative for children across Rhode Island. A $200,000 grant from the Hasbro Children’s Fund will help UWRI launch this initiative across 11 existing summer programs throughout Rhode Island. These programs will provide children with the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and service learning projects so they are prepared to embrace and excel when they return to school in September.
Studies confirm that, on average, students lose the equivalent of more than two months of math skills during the summer. Those in low-income communities fall behind in reading an average of two months, while their middle-income peers make slight gains.
Summer learning loss is having a direct, negative impact on our children’s academic performance during the school year,” said Anthony Maione, president and CEO, United Way of Rhode Island. “Thanks to Hasbro’s generous support, we are able to establish the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative so that Rhode Island children will not only have a fun and educational summer but they will be better prepared for school in the fall.”
In 2005, Hasbro’s support helped create the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative in partnership with United Way of Pioneer Valley to help children in the Springfield, MA area begin their school years ready to excel and thrive. Today, UWRI and Hasbro are taking the best practices and lessons from that award-winning program and others to do the same for children in the Ocean State.
“Hasbro is excited to partner with the United Way of Rhode Island to help children in the state begin each school year sprinting forward, not catching up,” said Karen Davis, vice president of community relations at Hasbro, Inc. “We have seen firsthand how effective a high quality summer program, that includes not only learning but service and fun, can be in helping children excel.”
In order to qualify for funding from the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative each program had to be a full day, six week long program incorporating literacy and math development skills, hands on engaging learning, serving elementary or middle school youth. In addition, each grantee also had to form a generationOn Club to engage its students in service learning projects. Recognizing the ability of all kids to change the world and themselves through service, Hasbro helped to launch generationOn, the global youth service movement in 2010 as a part of the Points of Light’s youth service enterprise.
UWRI allocated the $200,000 in funding from Hasbro amongst eleven existing summer learning programs throughout the state, including NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley. The Rhode Island Afterschool Plus Alliance (RIASPA), UWRI’s education initiative, will provide subject matter expertise and technical support to these eleven programs. NWBRV collaborated on this project with Riverzedge Arts and the Woonsocket Department of Education.