Classroom Central Announces $30,000 Grant From The James M. Cox Foundation

Grant allows for expansion of classroom supply delivery programs

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Classroom Central has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation to help provide free school supplies to students living in poverty.  The funds will allow Classroom Central to reach more students in need via the Classroom Up and Mobile Free Store programs.

"The generous gift from the James M. Cox Foundation will allow us to ensure that students living in poverty have the basic school supplies they need to succeed in school," said Jill Dineen, executive director of Classroom Central. "These funds will extend our reach within our programs that deliver supplies directly to educators of students in need."

Over half of the students living in the districts that Classroom Central serves are living in poverty. Classroom Central has operated a Free Store on Wilkinson Blvd. in Charlotte since 2002, so educators can shop for free school supplies for their students in need. 

In 2013, Classroom Central launched an online ordering system called Classroom Up where educators of students in need can order essential school supplies that are delivered to their classrooms. In Fall 2014, the Mobile Free Store truck began delivering supply kits to a central location in each of the five districts adjacent to the Free Store. These programs were launched in response to feedback that Classroom Central received from educators that many had challenges visiting the facility due to after-school meetings or personal child care responsibilities.

This grant will enable Classroom Central to expand its reach in the final phase of the Classroom Up rollout to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, as well as provide a special Mobile Free Store delivery to York County.

The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Media Group operate. Cox companies in Charlotte include: Ch. 9 WSOC-TV, WAXN-TV64, AutoTrader.com and Manheim Charlotte.  

"As a Cox Media Group owned TV Station, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV shares the same values with our parent company of giving back and supporting the community we serve with news, information and entertainment," said WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV Vice President and General Manager Joe Pomilla. "Classroom Central understands the importance of education and is helping ensure that all of our students have access to tools for success."

Ch. 9 WSOC-TV and TV 64 WAXN-TV are longtime supporters of Classroom Central through its School Tools program, the largest school supply drive in the region. Serving more than three million children since 1997, this community initiative has raised more than $8 million worth of school supplies to date.

About Classroom Central:
Classroom Central equips students living in poverty to effectively learn by collecting and distributing free school supplies. Operating in six school districts and supporting over 200 schools and over 100,000 students, Classroom Central helps level the playing field for our region's students in need.  Since its inception in 2002, Classroom Central has distributed over $42 million in school supplies.   For more information, visit http://www.classroomcentral.org.

About The James M. Cox Foundation:
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas, including: conservation and environment; early childhood education; empowering families and individuals for success; and health.

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SOURCE The James M. Cox Foundation

For further information: Lauren Johnson, 704.840.0587, lauren@classroomcentral.org