McKnight Invests in Early Childhood Education and Effective Youth Development

The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, has shown its commitment to improving children’s lives in its second-quarter 2005 grantmaking.

In support of early childhood education, McKnight's board committed a total of $3.7 million to four Minnesota organizations. Development Corporation for Children, Minneapolis, received $1.2 million over three years for operations and for the First Children's Finance Growth Fund, which will provide investments to improve operations in select early childhood businesses. St. Paul's Ready 4 K received $2.4 million over three years to educate and organize the community and policymakers, and to develop public policy that will improve the state's early childhood development system. Also in St. Paul, Lifetrack Resources was granted $75,000 for the Families Together preschool and home visiting program; and the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children received $65,000 over two years to improve the professional development system for early childcare providers.

"These organizations are powerful partners in the improvement of children's lives, and we're pleased to continue support of their important work," said Erika L. Binger, McKnight's board chair. "In recent years, they and others have steadily built momentum toward significant progress in Minnesota's early childhood education system. Now is a critical time to take advantage of, and build on, that energy."

To support out-of-school time programs for effective youth development, the board of directors approved a total of $4.3 million over a three-year period to 55 organizations. Among those funded are Peta Wakan Tipi, St. Paul, which received $15,000 for summer gardening and cultural programs for Native American youth; Community Partners with Youth, New Brighton, which received $120,000 over three years for year-round youth enrichment in the Moundsville and New Brighton communities; and Kwanzaa Community Church, Minneapolis, which received $26,000 to support the Girls Club (SISTAS) program. Funded program offerings include youth enrichment opportunities for recreation, art, gardening, community service, and career development; more than half also provide academic assistance.

In total, The McKnight Foundation awarded 131 grants totaling $37,494,900 in its recent round of grantmaking. For a complete list of grant recipients, visit McKnight’s Web site.

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