PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Juliana Mojica
415-225-3725
Email: juliana@mojicaarts.com

MISSION NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS TO SPEARHEAD SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM FOR HEAD START THROUGH W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION GRANT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. –  “For African American and Latina/o children in San Francisco, the Math and Reading Achievement Gap starts between 2nd and 5th grades, and increases by 8th grade,” said Santiago (Sam) Ruiz, Executive Director of Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc.  “Our Kellogg Foundation grant will help us integrate our Head Start and Family Resource Center models as we prepare our preschoolers to enter Kindergarten, provide support systems to our parents and develop community partnerships to ensure our children’s consistent success throughout their education.”

The project is funded by a three-year $900,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich.

Efforts will focus on a holistic approach to optimize school readiness, which includes preparing both children and their families for long-term success.  The Family Resource System blends high-quality social & health services with a strong academic program to build a solid foundation for young at-risk learners within the community.

The program will be implemented at two MNC sites: Southeast Families United Child Development Center (SEFAU) in Bayview/Hunters Point and the future Centro de Alegria Family Resource Center in the Mission district.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.                      

WHERE: SEFAU Child Development Center, 1337 Evans Ave., San Francisco, CA. 94124 (across from the U.S. Post Office)

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About Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc.
Mission Neighborhood Centers (MNC) delivers culturally sensitive, multi-generational, community-based services focused on low-income families.  We develop and promote leadership skills that empower families to build strong, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

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