Genesis Center Awarded $149,780 by United Way of Rhode Island to Fund Two Projects

Grants to Genesis Center are part of United Way’s $3.1 million investment in programs that focus on housing stability, lifelong learning for children and adults, and helping families meet their basic needs

Providence, R.I. (May 4, 2016): Genesis Center has been awarded two grants by United Way of Rhode Island in the amount of $149,780 to support Adult Education and Early Childhood Education and its work to provide high-quality educational and support services that lead to employment for low-income community residents. 

The grant is awarded by United Way for the first year of its new 2016-2019 competitive grant cycle, with a focus on funding efforts that help kids fall in love with learning, help adults reach new career goals, and help families meet their basic needs and achieve economic independence. In total, United Way has awarded $3.1 million in grants among the $12 million it has committed through 2019 to help change the lives of 250,000 Rhode Islanders by 2020, the overarching goal of its new strategic plan, LIVE UNITED 2020.

Through its Integrated Program Platform for adult learners, Genesis Center will be able to expand its adult basic education services that combine financial literacy, job readiness, and computer skills with targeted English and/or literacy instruction to give students the skills to compete in today’s job market.  To accomplish this, Genesis will offer classes at partner organizations and augment its online learning capacity.

In its Early Learning Center, Genesis will be implementing several strategies to improve its learning opportunities for low-income, mainly immigrant children, including holistic supports with a strong focus on helping families address barriers to success. Program enhancements will also promote the two-generation learning model, so both parents and children understand that education is a key driver to goal attainment.

“We are excited that UWRI chose to fund both our adult education and early childhood education programs.  Genesis Center has a unique arrangement that allows us to engage families around a common goal that emphasizes education as a vehicle for family success and promotes a two-generation learning model,” says Shannon Carroll, president and chief executive officer of Genesis Center.

Genesis Center submitted its funding applications in response to United Way’s request for proposals last fall. The submission was one of 224 proposals received by United Way. Funding proposals were put through a vigorous review process by a diverse group of 75 United Way community volunteers, who spent nearly six months reviewing proposals before delivering their funding recommendations to the United Way Community Investment Advisory Committee for approval. Volunteers received more than ten hours of training to become reviewers, and were tasked with taking a total of $16.5 million in funding requests to allocate the $3.1 million made available by United Way.

 

“While our goal of changing 250,000 lives by 2020 is ambitious, the innovative ideas of the funding proposals we received really captured the forward thinking we need to make the vision a reality,” said Anthony Maione, President and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “We know that when families have access to stable housing, children receive the opportunities they need to succeed in the classroom, and adults get the support they need to advance in the workforce, there’s no limit to how strong our communities can become—and that helps everyone.”

 

 

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About Genesis Center

Genesis Center, founded thirty-three years ago in Providence’s West End, is a multi-service organization offering high-quality adult education, job training, and childcare services for low-income community members, immigrants, and refugees who want to make a better life for themselves and their families.  Today, it serves more than 800 adults and children every year from over 35 countries. The mission of Genesis is “to provide the highest quality education, job training and support services to people of diverse cultures so that they may achieve economic independence and participate fully in society.

About United Way of Rhode Island

United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) has been working to improve the quality of life in Rhode Island for nearly 90 years. Together with its partners, UWRI 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.

 

Posted on May 4, 2016 .