United Way and Hasbro, Inc. Invest $459,600 in Summer Learning, Highlight Need to Expand Programs that Help Close Achievement Gap
Providence, R.I. (July 12, 2019): United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) and Hasbro, Inc. have invested $459,600 in 13 programs serving more than 1,000 children this summer. The funding supports summer learning programs that reduce summer learning loss, and are part of a partnership model known as the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative (HSLI). Since 2012, the two organizations have contributed more than $3.8 million to HSLI programs. Joined by partners and community leaders, the announcement was held at the Pawtucket YMCA, the newest HSLI program. July 8 through 12 is National Summer Learning Week.
“There is no question that, as a state, we have a lot of work to do to improve the way our children learn in the classroom and the educational outcomes of our schools,” said Cortney Nicolato, President and CEO of UWRI. “And there’s no question that participating in summer learning programs has proven to set children and their teachers up for success when school resumes in the fall – the issue is a lack of access.”
“Nine in ten teachers spend at least three weeks at the start of the school year re-teaching material from the previous year, while four out of five parents say enrolling their kids in these programs helps them keep their jobs,” she said. “While we’re proud to support HSLI for 1,000 children across the state this summer, we know there are thousands more who would benefit from a program, if one were available to them.”
The nationally-recognized HSLI model was developed in 2012 with the partnership of public school educators, corporate and nonprofit leaders to stem the summer learning loss that occurs when students are not engaged in active learning over summer vacation. Its six-week curriculum is designed to help children gain academic and service learning skills, while also developing their social and emotional skills.
“Children and their futures are at the heart of everything we do at Hasbro,” said Kevin Colman, Director, Global Philanthropy and Social Impact, Hasbro, Inc. “Supporting this work is so important to us because of the positive results and long-term benefits we have seen by having children participate in summer learning programs.”
“Summer learning loss affects all children, and in particular, it has a tremendous impact on kids from lowincome homes,” added Nicolato. “By the fifth grade, summer learning loss can leave low-income students nearly three years behind their peers. This is driving a growing achievement gap and is a problem of equitable opportunities for all children. There is no single answer to how to fix what we’re seeing in our schools, but I know we can start with summer learning programs.”
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United Way of Rhode Island is changing lives and strengthening our communities by investing in proven
programs that work over the short-term, and are scalable over the long-term. For more information, visit
www.LIVEUNITEDri.org.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 13 on the 2019 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past eight years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro) and Instagram (@Hasbro).