Foundation's resources to provide services for
students, teachers and families that will enrich the educational
experience and opportunities for students at Twin Rivers
Elementary
MCKEESPORT, Pa., May 19, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation and
McKeesport Area School District
(MASD) today announced the creation of a first-of-a-kind
partnership to invest in the youth of McKeesport and surrounding communities. The
partnership will help to provide elementary-aged children at Twin
Rivers Elementary and their families with access to holistic
resources and programming to support their learning and wellbeing.
The partnership builds upon a year of collaboration between the
Foundation and the school district and has benefitted from deep
input from families, teachers and community leaders.
"DICK'S Sporting Goods has been investing in kids since our
first store opened almost 75 years ago," said Aimee Watters, Executive Director of The DICK'S
Sporting Goods Foundation. "We believe it is our responsibility to
invest in our communities to ensure future generations have the
resources they need to thrive."
Over the last year, MASD staff, families, and community members
have been working together with the Foundation to co-design a new
school model - United at Twin Rivers - that is focused on building
healthy minds, healthy bodies, and healthy relationships. Beginning
in the upcoming school year, the new model will holistically focus
on students and their families, and emphasize rigorous academics,
healthy and active lifestyles, and wraparound services for students
and their families.
"From day one, The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation has worked
shoulder to shoulder with us to support students -- from launching
a free summer camp available to K-8 students across MASD, to its
financial support of professional development and community events,
to our shared work to provide extra food and clothing to all
students and their families," said McKeesport Area School District
Superintendent, Dr. Mark P.
Holtzman. "We are excited to see all that this partnership
can bring to our students long term."
As an initial step in the partnership, The DICK'S Foundation and
MASD hosted a launch event at Twin Rivers, the site of the future
Community Resource Center -- which will offer communal space and
free services including laundry, a food pantry, free wi-fi and
showers for students and families. MASD and the Foundation will
also hold its second free summer camp this June and will start the
upcoming school year together as United at Twin Rivers. This
fall, the school will open with increased staffing, improved
facilities and a restructured school day to allow for more
individualized support, and to help ensure the child's holistic
needs are being met, helping to build healthy minds, bodies and
relationships.
"The process to re-design Twin Rivers has been a remarkably
collaborative one," said MASD Assistant Superintendent Dr.
Tia Wanzo. "Our kids and families
deserve the best educational opportunities we can offer, and this
is a critical step in creating that experience for everyone."
The Community Resource Center is slated to open this summer.
United at Twin Rivers will host an open house this fall when
McKeesport residents can see the
new space and learn more about the partnership.
About The DICK'S Sporting Goods
Foundation
The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation
is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to
inspire and enable sports participation. It was created by DICK'S
Sporting Goods as a private corporate foundation to support DICK'S
charitable and philanthropic activities. Driven by its belief that
sports make people better, The DICK'S Foundation champions youth
sports and provides grants and support to under-resourced teams and
athletes through its Sports Matter program and other
community-based initiatives. Additional information about The
DICK'S Foundation can be found on sportsmatter.org and on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram.
Contact: DICK'S Sporting Goods – press@dcsg.com
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SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods