Contact: Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Cheri Fein – (212) 843-8019

For Immediate Release

HAAN FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN RECEIVES HEINZ ENDOWMENTS GRANT

Funds To Be Used To Further Haan Foundation’s

Power4Kids Reading Initiative

The Haan Foundation for Children has received a grant from The Heinz Endowments, which will be used to help launch The Haan Foundation’s Power4Kids Reading Initiative.

The Power4Kids Reading Initiative is the first independent national program organized to dramatically alter the educational trajectory and future outcome for millions of our children.  The study will be the largest randomized, classroom-cluster design of its kind ever conducted.  Supported by a public-private sponsorship, it will be centrally coordinated by Dr. Joseph Torgesen, an eminent scholar in the field of reading difficulties.

"We are honored to have the support of The Heinz Endowments,” said Cinthia Haan, co-founder and chairman of The Haan Foundation for Children, which is headquartered in San Francisco.

The cornerstone of the Power4Kids Reading Initiative is a powerful study designed to demonstrate scientifically with highly effective classroom remedial reading programs that over 90% of our children can be brought to reading proficiency.  Today, more than 20 million American students cannot read at grade level; half  are considered functionally illiterate.  This study may change society’s expectations for countless young people whose futures are now clouded.  Its results will show how to “close the reading achievement gap” for older students (grades 3-5) previously held beyond hope, and for children who have not learned to read due to their environment or learning differences.  It will also demonstrate that these highly effective intervention programs can be adapted to many different types of classroom settings, produce replicable nationwide results, have sustainable success, and fit into schools’ budgets.

The Power4Kids Study will take place in six major metropolitan areas across the United States, providing instruction to 2,160 children attending 180 different elementary schools.   A total of 1,080 children will serve in control groups; their reading progress will be assessed in the same way as those receiving intervention.  Each instructional method will be implemented in two diverse metropolitan areas by 44 different teachers.

The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center of learning and educational excellence, and a home to diversity and inclusion.  Committed to helping its region thrive as a whole community – economically, educationally and culturally – the foundation works both locally and nationwide to develop solutions to challenges that are national and even international in scope.  One of the largest and most innovative independent philanthropic foundations in the country, The Heinz Endowments awarded over $55 million in grants in 2001.