$750,000 Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation To Help New Schools For Phoenix Provide More Students with Access to Quality Education.

Believing in the vision of New Schools For Phoenix, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has pledged to invest $750,000 over the next three years for the nonprofit to expand its local programs. New Schools For Phoenix works to break the cycle of poverty by increasing access to high performing public schools among low-income students. The nonprofit recruits and trains effective leaders to support struggling schools and launch A-rated charter schools in Phoenix. More than 80 percent of students enrolled within the Phoenix urban area attend a high poverty school, and less than one in 10 of these students attend an A-rated school. New Schools For Phoenix recognizes the importance of education as a driver for personal and economic development and strives to provide exceptional education for all children, regardless of income or background.

“The generosity of the Parsons will allow us to bring our programs to even more children in Phoenix,” said Andrew Collins, Senior Director of New Schools For Phoenix. “Our training helps leaders develop the mindset, knowledge and ability to inspire students and make positive changes to education in high-need communities.”

The three-year grant will support leadership development within New Schools For Phoenix, to guide leaders through the process of designing and launching a successful school or bettering existing programs. The training consists of a five-month school design fellowship for entrepreneurial leaders, followed by up to four years of planning and implementation support.

“Every child is entitled to a quality education, but many children living in low-income areas just aren’t getting the support they need,” said entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. “Our partnership with New Schools For Phoenix will help provide our community’s most at-risk students with access to valuable educational opportunities.”

During the next five years, New Schools For Phoenix plans to expand its services to support the development or improvement of 25 facilities. These schools, with a total enrollment capacity of 12,500 students, will triple the number of low-income children attending a high performing public school within the Phoenix urban core.

“An important goal of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is to provide desperately needed help, education and ultimately hope to all children. The work of New Schools For Phoenix is doing just that, giving students hope and support for a brighter future,” said Renee Parsons. “Supporting education is truly an investment in the future of our community.”

New Schools For Phoenix currently serves more than 2,000 children in the Phoenix urban core. The Phoenix urban core spans 220 square miles across the Phoenix Union High School District and its 13 feeder elementary school districts. Approximately 136,000 K-12 students attend 215 public and charter schools within those boundaries, the majority of whom come from low-income, minority families. For more information, visit newschoolsforphoenix.org.