FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Redwood City, CA—August 1, 2017 – Today, Citizen Schools, a national nonprofit that partners with public schools to provide academic enrichment in underserved communities in four states, is announcing a major financial investment of $500,000 from Google.org, bringing the company’s total support of Citizen Schools to over $4.5 million.

Google.org first partnered with Citizen Schools in 2006 when Google employees began volunteering as “Citizen Teachers,” teaching after-school apprenticeships to middle school students in Northern California. Since then, 225 Googlers have donated 9,000 volunteer hours and directly impacted the lives of 1,635 students in the Bay Area.

“Googlers continue to demonstrate their commitment to these important programs year over year.  At Google.org we understand that our employees’ dedication to Citizen Schools has a long-lasting and positive impact on students across the country and this grant is a way to ensure that these programs continue and flourish,” said Diane Solinger, Director of Google Engagement in Mountain View. 

Launched in Boston in 1996, Citizen Schools is a national leader for project-based learning aimed at middle school students in high-need, public school districts. Its mission is to help kids develop mastery of critical 21st century skills, like collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking so they can bridge the opportunity gap which exists between them and their peers from more affluent school districts. Students who participate in Citizen Schools programs have better attendance rates, greater math and science proficiency and are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college and pursue a degree in a STEM field.

With this latest investment, Google.org will be supporting  STEM programming through apprenticeships in Android App Design, Lego Robotics and Web Design, alongside Google employee volunteers for the next three years. Googlers have already been teaching apprenticeships in robotics, video game programming, mobile app development and design thinking, and this funding will help Citizen Schools reach even more students in years to come. 

“As a pioneer in Ed Tech, Google is making it possible for students to imagine themselves as tomorrow’s engineers, computer programmers and thought leaders,” said Citizen Schools CEO Emily McCann. “We share their vision and thank them for providing financial support as well as volunteers who add tremendous value to our classrooms.” 

Media Contact:
Darcie Fisher
Ellis Strategies, Inc.
darcie@ellisstrategies.com | 774-281-3506

About Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities. Citizen Schools mobilizes a team of AmeriCorps educators and volunteer “Citizen Teachers” to teach real-world learning projects and provide academic support in order to help all students discover and achieve their dreams. For more information, please visit http://www.citizenschools.org/