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McInnes Cooper donates $11,000 to help build Early Education Centre
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October 19, 2011
McInnes Cooper is pleased to announce a donation of $11,000 to Hazen-White/St. Francis School to enable the creation of a new Early Education Centre. The program is designed to help break the cycle of poverty in the Crescent Valley area of Saint John by providing children the skills they need to begin and succeed at school.
“The Hazen-White/St. Francis School stood out as an area where we could make a real difference,” said Jeff Hoyt, Saint John Area Manager for McInnes Cooper. “This is social entrepreneurism at its best – helping students get the head start they need.”
With this funding, the school will operate a part-time program for pre-school children in the area. The program will encourage the development of basic reading, writing and language skills.
“We are so touched that we were selected to be able to offer this valuable program,” said the school’s Principal, Jennifer Carhart. “It is one that our community was asking for, and to have this opportunity come forward was really special.”
Other community groups and organizations have identified the need to help children in this community. Recent support has included a refurbished library and a bursary program that encourages students to stay in school and pursue higher education. While those initiatives have been successful, school officials say that new students are not as prepared as their peers. Many children are not taught the basic skills required to begin school, and they are approximately two years behind children in other parts of the province, so they have to work harder to close the gap.
“We are honoured to be a part of this innovative program that we feel will benefit the whole city,” said Jeff, who is also a member of the firm’s local Collective Social Responsibility Committee.
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