Craven County, N.C. – International Paper Company and Craven County Partners In Education announced a $10,000 investment from International Paper Foundation. The focus of the awarded grant is to increase literacy achievement through direct services to the students of Craven County Schools.
Darlene Brown, executive director of Partners In Education, explains, “The two objectives of the grants are: 1) Improve student achievement in literacy skills and build a strong foundation in concepts such as phonemic awareness. 2) Improve student achievement in accuracy and fluency with connected text, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Through this grant, PIE will offer two grants to Craven County Schools principals, at $5,000 each. The goal of this grant is to enable students to improve their reading skills to the point where they can succeed in school and develop the comprehension skills that will give them the foundation for career success, post-secondary education, and life skills. Studies have shown that poor readers who are reading at a grade level or more behind, are more likely to be disruptive in the classroom, truant from school, and at risk of dropping out of school.”
Catherine Burgess, Communications Specialist with International Paper at the New Bern Mill, said, “The most successful way to improve the reading achievement of our students is to increase their access to print. At International Paper, we make sustainable investments to protect and improve the lives of our employees and mobilize our people, products and resources to address critical needs in the communities where our employees live in work. Supporting PIE is one way we are doing this.”
It is an essential prerequisite for life and academic success that as learners, students must be given multiple opportunities to read text, discuss text, and write about text that challenges their skills.
About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, India and Russia. International Paper produces corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., International Paper employs more than 52,000 colleagues and serves more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2018 were $23 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.
Partners In Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides grant funding and special programs to classrooms and schools within the Craven County Schools system.
Since 1989, PIE has been changing the lives of students and families in our community by providing our educators with financial resources that enhance and reward innovative approaches to educational excellence. For more information about Partners In Education, visit www.CravenPartners.com.
Submitted by: Darlene Brown, Craven County Partners In Education