Northwestern Mutual’s charitable foundation has awarded $1.6 million in grants to 25 educational programs that emphasize improving reading proficiency and college and career readiness in the Milwaukee area.
The foundation said it will also give out college and trade school scholarships to students from the Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
“The future of our city is dependent on the quality of education we provide our youth,” said John Schlifske, chairman and chief executive officer of Northwestern Mutual. “A well-educated community builds the foundation for a skilled and responsible workforce.”
Many of the grants have been awarded to programs that aim specifically to address third-grade reading proficiency. In a statement released Thursday, foundation representatives cited a 2015 report completed by Milwaukee Succeeds that found only 16 percent of 3rd grade students in the city read at a proficient level.
Here’s a list of the grant recipients:
- Arts @ Large
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
- COA Youth & Family Centers
- First Stage Milwaukee
- Marquette University
- Milwaukee College Preparatory School
- Milwaukee Public Library
- Next Door Foundation
- Penfield Children’s Center
- St. Marcus Lutheran School
- SHARP Literacy Inc.
- United Community Center
- Culture & Climate
- City Year Milwaukee
- Schools That Can Milwaukee, Inc.
- Teach For America-Milwaukee
- Community Collaboration
- Milwaukee Succeeds
- Milwaukee Public Schools
- The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Innovation / Replication
- MPS Reimagining High Schools
- Carmen – Pulaski Partnership
- Partners Advancing Values in Education
- SaintA
