NEW YORK, NY. - March 17, 2009 - Union Settlement Association in East Harlem (www.unionsettlement.org) and Drew University in Madison, New Jersey (www.drew.edu) today announced that they have been awarded a $240,000 College-Community Connections grant from the Teagle Foundation (www.teagle.org). The grant will fund a continued partnership between Union Settlement and Drew University to give low-income, underserved high school and middle school students in East Harlem a vital awareness of the challenges and rewards associated with higher education.

"Many high school students in East Harlem never have an opportunity to learn first-hand all the possibilities that a college education offers them." said David Nocenti, Executive Director of Union Settlement Association, which is one of the largest social service providers in East Harlem. "For the past two years, Union Settlement and Drew University have developed a great partnership that encourages these underserved students to seek a college education and equips them with the tools needed to accomplish that objective. I want to thank the Teagle Foundation for this generous grant, which will allow us to expand this program and continue it for another three years."

"Drew University is committed to helping youth in East Harlem and other underserved communities overcome the obstacles they face to attending college," said Dr. Robert Weisbuch, President of Drew University. "By helping students to become familiar with the college setting, we are sparking a lifelong love of knowledge, education and achievement, and I am very grateful that the Teagle Foundation has recognized the merits of this program and has made such a large commitment to fund it."

"Summer College" at Drew University features classes taught by university faculty that emphasize the benefits, challenges, pressures, and opportunities of being a college student and a college graduate. Students take part in classes and seminars that introduce them to subjects and approaches they can study in college, which are often untouched in their high schools. They also participate in evening co-curricular activities, such as a performance at the New Jersey Shakespeare Theatre, a documentary film showing and discussion, or a sporting event.

With the support of the Teagle Foundation, Union Settlement and Drew University will be integrating more opportunities for cross-programming during the school year. Drew students will travel to East Harlem twice a month to tutor middle schoolers attending Union Settlement's Saturday Academy and to lead SAT and Regents test prep for high schoolers. Union Settlement students will also visit the Drew campus for events such as student plays, poetry readings or colloquiums.

About Union Settlement Association

Union Settlement Association was established in 1895 and is now one of the largest social service providers in East Harlem. Union Settlement provides a broad range of programs and assistance to the East Harlem community, including child care and Head Start classes, after-school youth development and college preparation programs, job readiness training, GED and ESOL classes, mental health counseling, HIV care coordination, Meals on Wheels and senior center services. Over 13,000 local residents participate in these programs each year, which are designed to foster leadership and self-sufficiency, and to assist local residents in building better lives for themselves and their families. For more information, please visit: http://unionsettlement.org/.

About Drew University
Drew University is located in Madison, New Jersey and consists of the College of Liberal Arts, the Drew Theological School and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Drew University has a total enrollment of 2,506 students (1,608 in the College of Liberal Arts, 587 in the Caspersen School and 361 in the Theological School). The Theological and Caspersen schools offer degrees at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels, while the College annually confers B.A. degrees in 29 different disciplines. The university is known for its small class sizes and personal attention to students. Ninety-four percent of Drew's full-time faculty members hold terminal degrees in their areas of expertise, which makes high-quality mentorship the hallmark of a Drew education. For more information, please visit: http://www.drew.edu/.

Union Settlement Association

Union Settlement Association

Since 1895, Union Settlement Association has been dedicated to working with the predominantly immigrant community of East Harlem. A community mainstay, Union Settlement seeks to foster leadership and self-sufficiency by helping local residents build better lives for themselves and their families. As one of East Harlem’s largest social service agencies, Union Settlement responds to issues that affect the entire community, serving more than 13,000 low-income residents annually through effective programs in education, childcare, nutrition, senior services, counseling, the arts, job training, and economic development. Union Settlement is a large local employer with programs operating in 18 different sites, and thereby also serves as an important contributor to the economic vitality of East Harlem.

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