GAR Foundation Awards $1.08 Million Grant For University Park Alliance

Akron, Ohio, Nov. 9, 2007 — The GAR Foundation has awarded a $1.08 million grant to the University of Akron Foundation for the University Park Alliance (UPA) to create an Educational Excellence Initiative pre-kindergarten program for University Park residents.

Phase one of the program, called The University Park Advantage: An Educational Excellence Initiative Program, begins in January 2008 and ends in June 2009. It includes use of the Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) program developed by Sisters of Charity in Stark County. SPARK prepares children for kindergarten by building reading, language and social skills.

“This is yet another validation of the work being accomplished in the University Park area by the University Park Alliance to revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding the university,” says UA President Luis M. Proenza. “Awarding of this grant will further enrich the lives of University Park residents and lay necessary and essential groundwork for the area's children to further succeed in school.”

Partners in the grant, to be managed by UPA, include the university's College of Education and Institute for Health and Social Policy, Akron Public Schools, Akron Summit Community Action Inc., Summit Education Initiative, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Area YMCA.

“The model is child-focused and based upon parent, community and university involvement,” says Dr. Sylvester Small, Superintendent of Akron Public Schools. “Our goal is to eventually obtain a 3-star quality rating from the State of Ohio.”

It provides for a full-day preschool experience that uses the parent-focused SPARK program, Head Start or similar pre-school program, and includes value-added enrichment activities. The curriculum will include cognitive and affective development activities, as well as health and wellness programs.

The program will be offered at three locations over the next five years — one each in the southeast, southwest and northeast quadrants of the University Park neighborhood where significant numbers of families live. The program will initially operate out of existing facilities or modular units.

“This content-rich, innovative program will offer a quality, scholastic and experiential program for children in the University Park area,” says Dr. Cynthia Capers, interim dean of UA's College of Education. “It will also engage UA students in service learning projects within each of the program centers.”

The College of Education will be a resource for the program, tapping into the experience and expertise of many other University departments and areas.

A recent example of how UPA attracts investment to the area is the Spicer Village development, a 25-unit town home condominium project currently under construction near the university. The 1 to 3 bedroom townhomes will range from 1,820 to 2,900 square feet and be priced from $175,000. They are planned to attract young professionals and employees of the university, Summa Health System, and other nearby employers in both University Park and downtown who could walk to work.

The GAR Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1967 as a charitable trust by Galen J. Roush, co-founder and chief executive officer of Roadway Express, and his wife, Ruth Roush. Today, GAR's assets total approximately $185 million. The foundation has distributed more than $150 million since its inception to support charitable organizations within the foundation's areas of interest.

The GAR Web site is www.garfdn.org/.

The mission of the University Park Alliance is to revitalize the diverse neighborhoods in a 50-block area immediately surrounding The University of Akron by engaging the community and catalyzing real estate and business investment. Last year, UPA received $10 million in funding — the largest single award ever — from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to expand its redevelopment efforts.

UPA partners include The University of Akron, City of Akron, Summa Health System, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Greater Akron Chamber, Akron Public Schools and the University Park Development Corporation.

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