Once
Again, Worth Magazine Names Communities In Schools One of 100 Top Nonprofits
in U.S.
A Heartfelt Thank You to The Swalm Foundation and The Meadows
Foundation
2001-2002 Summer Classes and Fun
September is Declared Communities In Schools Month
Seven Hills Summer Sea World Trip
CIS Volunteer Needed!
Once
Again, Worth Magazine Names Communities In Schools One of 100 Top
Nonprofits in U.S.
Recognition Marks Second Year of Coveted National Honor for CIS
For
the second year in a row, Communities In Schools, the nation's leading
community-based organization helping kids succeed in school and prepare
for life, has been selected by Worth magazine as one of the top
100 nonprofits in the U. S. Worth interviewed hundreds of philanthropy
experts, examined detailed information on nonprofit programs and examined
tax returns from the last three years to determine which nonprofits are
making the biggest impact and which organizations are spending public
donations wisely.
"We are proud to be selected--for two consecutive years--as one of the top 100 nonprofits in the United States," said Lynnea Williamson, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Denton County.
With 12 million American kids living in poverty, addressing children's issues is more critical than ever. Worth set out to identify those charities that are "doing the best job, dollar for dollar" to mitigate the challenges children face. Here is some of what Worth had to say about Communities In Schools:
"CIS knows that kids can't focus on learning if they're hungry or scared or they can't see the blackboard. It integrates needed services such as mentoring, counseling, vision screenings, day care, job training, and gang prevention into schools so teachers and students are free to focus on academics."
"Once again this recognition validates the importance of our work, especially the way Communities In Schools affects educational performance," said Communities In Schools National Founder and President William E. Milliken. "It shows donors that, by bringing needed human services into the schools, we produce measurable academic results: improved grades, higher graduation rates and increased college acceptances." This year, Communities In Schools joined 12 other outstanding organizations in the "Education" category that reflects the magazine's new priority on K-12 public education.
Communities In Schools of Denton County serves over 12,000 individuals in 5 school districts in Denton & Wise counties. During the 2001-2002 academic school year, CIS 1,034 students received intensive case managed services. Of those case managed students, 88.84% showed a significant increase in Attendance, Behavior, and Academic performance. 89.58% of those students were promoted to the next grade, and 85.71% of eligible seniors graduated.
Celebrating 25 years of success changing children's lives, Communities In Schools is at work in 30 states, connecting community resources with over 2,500 schools to build communities of help, hope and care for more than 1.9 million students every year.
A
Heartfelt Thank You to The Swalm Foundation and The Meadows Foundation
Funding from the Swalm Foundation and the Meadows Foundation enabled
CISDC to hire a new Director of Development. The Meadows Foundation is
a nationally recognized private Texas philanthropy, and it was named Outstanding
Foundation of the year by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.
The Foundation's philanthropic interests include public education, mental
health, and the environment. In addition, The Swalm Foundation is an organization
also focused on the funding of human service organizations in Texas. Swalm
Foundation grants support work with the homeless, the educationally and
economically disadvantaged, survivors of domestic violence, victims of
child abuse, and neglect, and the mentally or physically disabled. Communities
In Schools would like to formally thank The Meadows Foundation and The
Swalm Foundation for graciously supporting our endeavors to provide youth
with the opportunities needed to succeed in life. The Director of Development
secures funding for the maintenance and expansion of CIS; therefore, as
we continue to grow, necessary resources will be obtained to continue
providing quality service to youth, families, and community members.
2001-2002 Summer
Classes and Fun
Thanks to Speedway Children's Charity, Hillwood Properties, United Way
of Denton County, and the City of Lewisville, one-hundred-and-twenty-two
middle school and high school adolescents attended the 2000-2001 academic
summer program. Oftentimes, without help, children that have fallen behind
academically are not afforded opportunities to "catch up," and
they drop out of school. In Texas, 28.4% of identified at-risk students
drop out of school because they are in the wrong grade level or overage;
therefore, it is imperative to provide academic summer programs for the
growing number of disadvantaged students. In the 2001-2002 summer program,
122 students enrolled, 168 classes were completed, and 92.86% of the classes
were passed. In addition to academic accomplishments, students received
one-on-tutoring, and on-going case management. CIS students also participated
in field trips and enrichment activities including a kick off event at
Ranger Stadium, and a community service project for the Christian Community
Action food pantry. Students collected and donated 70 pounds of food for
homeless and needy families.
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September is Declared Communities
In Schools Month
Since Communities In Schools inception in the late 1970's, CIS Inc., has been nationally recognized as an exemplary program in reducing the school dropout rate. The first bill to fund a Texas program was passed by the Texas Legislature in 1989 with an appropriation of $840,218. By 2001, more than $17,000,000 was annually appropriated to continue services statewide. The Texas program now serves more than 250,000 students annually. According to Texas State Senate, "Communities In Schools has been successful in creating an overall positive school environment and is a great asset to the State of Texas". The Senate of the State of Texas recognizes September as Communities In Schools Month. The community and the great state of Texas supported Communities In Schools for 23 years, and with additional accreditation and notoriety, CISDC will continue to flourish and provide increasing amounts of services to thousands of area residents, annually.
Seven Hills
Summer Sea World Trip
See
what a little ingenuity and some vision can produce for 30 CISDC kids
and 5 parents. Lara Varcoe, the Campus Manager at Seven Hills Elementary,
wanted to take CISDC summer school students to Sea World because it's
a fantastic trip that most of these children never had the opportunity
to experience. With help from other CIS staff, friends, family, high school
students, and various area businesses, thirty children experienced the
wonder, excitement, laughs, and joy of being a kid, at Sea World. Mrs.
Varco raised $3,500.00 including $300.00 raised at an all-day, Saturday
car wash, sponsored by U
-19
Aces soccer team; $1000.00 from Diamond Logistics, $1000.00 from Pete
Miller Unlimited, Inc.; and $800.00 from First Baptist Church of Haslet.
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all of the people who chaperoned, donated
funds, or volunteered time to make a special memory for these children.
After walking around the park all day, in amazement and wonder, they fell
asleep on the bus ride back to Denton, in the seated position, still hanging
on to their Sea World souvenirs. It was priceless.
Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to share the joy of giving with your family, friends, and children during this holiday season. Teach acts of kindness and giving by helping children at your local school.
- Bilingual mentors needed at Central Elementary, Hedrick Elementary,
Roanoke Elementary,
and Denton High School - Speakers from the community needed for drug awareness presentations; college preparation & funding, parent education speakers etc.; Speakers needed for a Career Fair, early in 2003, at Central Elementary School, and Volunteer speakers are needed throughout the academic year, on every campus
- Griffin Middle School, in The Colony, needs volunteers for the Homework club, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 4:00 to 5:00
- Tuesday afternoons, at Little Elm High School, tutors are needed for all subjects
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, at Roanoke Elementary School, from 2:50 to 4:00, tutors are need for all subjects
- Mentors needed at all 10 CISDC elementary, middle, and high school campuses
On-going and one-time volunteer opportunities available.
To contact the Campus Manager at the school sites, click
here.
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