4.02.2004 ET

(CSRwire) BOSTON, MA. - Jumpstart, the national early literacy program, celebrated its 10th anniversary by unveiling the early education initiative Boston School Readiness for All. This initiative, made possible by a $1 million challenge grant from Boston''s Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, was announced last night at Jumpstart's 10th Anniversary Celebration.

"Through Boston School Readiness for All, Jumpstart will continue to generate real and meaningful impact for children, families, and communities in Boston," said Mayor Thomas Menino, a strong supporter of Jumpstart's new initiative. "This will have an incredible effect on teaching and learning in the Boston Public Schools."

A number of noted Boston leaders and philanthropists, including Ira Jackson; Patrick and Kristina Lyons; Mark Nunnelly; Steve Woodsum; Paula and Edwin Sidman; Richard Freeland, president of Northeastern University; and JoAnne Gora, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts at Boston, attended the celebration to publicly support Boston School Readiness for All. The community has rallied in response to the challenge grant: Jumpstart has already secured a $200,000 anonymous donation to match the Smith Family Foundation's gift.

"We are building a movement around the importance of early childhood education, and we are gaining real momentum here in Boston," said Rob Waldron, president and CEO of Jumpstart. "It's important that we partner with local businesses to support this initiative to provide high quality education here in Boston."

Senior executives from Jumpstart's three national corporate sponsors - American Eagle Outfitters, Pearson, and Starbucks - committed to support Jumpstart's plans for continued expansion to work toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.

"We formed a national partnership with Jumpstart because we believed that together, Jumpstart and Starbucks could champion literacy awareness and create opportunities for children across the country," said Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company. "As Starbucks celebrates its 10th anniversary in Boston, we are excited to work with Jumpstart to continue to have a positive impact in promoting literacy among children in the underserved communities in Boston."

BOSTON SCHOOL READINESS FOR ALL

Jumpstart recruits and trains college students to work one-to-one with preschool children from low--income backgrounds. Jumpstart Corps members (college students) serve up to 525 hours a year and deliver Jumpstart's research-backed curriculum in the preschool classroom setting.

Through the Boston School Readiness for All initiative, Jumpstart will first expand its proven program model within one neighborhood to ensure that nearly every four-year-old child attending preschool in that neighborhood receives one-to-one support. Over the next seven years, Jumpstart will strive to reach more neighborhoods until nearly every four-year-old in Boston can benefit from its program. Boston School Readiness for All will equip Boston's children with the necessary skills to enter kindergarten prepared to learn and ready to succeed.

"This kind of transformative community impact is unprecedented in Boston, unprecedented in any city," said Richard A. Smith, co-chairman of the Smith Family Foundation. "Research indicates a savings to society of seven dollars for every one dollar invested in early education, so we firmly believe in the value of our investment for Boston. We are excited to be a part of this initiative, and we applaud Jumpstart for demonstrating such innovative leadership in transforming children and community."


Jumpstart launched the School Readiness for All initiative in Boston in response to increased demand from Jumpstart's existing partners, both higher education institutions and early childhood centers. Jumpstart will also leverage Boston's high concentration of college students to generate meaningful community impact.

JUMPSTART'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

In honor of engaging 4,000 college students in high impact service to more than 15,000 children and families, Jumpstart held its 10th anniversary celebration at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum on April 1. The event honored the vision of its founders and paid tribute to the long-term supporters who have made Jumpstart's work possible.

Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company, delivered the keynote address and spoke on behalf of the Jumpstart-Starbucks partnership.

"Starbucks partnership with Jumpstart is a great example of how we create hope, discovery and opportunity for young children in our local communities," said Schultz. "Starbucks commitment to literacy and giving back is an essential component of the way we do business in all the communities we serve."

ABOUT JUMPSTART

Jumpstart is a national early literacy organization that works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Through one-to-one relationships between young children and adults, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach, families to become involved in their child's education, and communities to progress together. Headquartered in Boston, Jumpstart currently engages 1,600 college students in service to 6,000 children and operates in 18 states, 44 communities, and 160 preschools. Jumpstart's national sponsors include American Eagle Outfitters, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, Pearson, and Starbucks. Jumpstart is a recipient of the Fast Company/Monitor 2004 Social Capitalist Award and has been featured by the Boston Globe, New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, Worth, and MTV. For more information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at www.jstart.org.

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