FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Date: April 7, 2000
Number: nr 00-05
Contact: Nan Powers Varoga, 713-658-1881, ext. 14
nvaroga@houstonaplus.org
ExxonMobil Foundation Awards Grant to Houston A+ ChallengeHOUSTON
- Studies show that American students’ math and science scores lag behind
those of pupils in other highly industrialized countries.To assist in addressing
that issue, ExxonMobil Foundation has awarded a $25,000 planning grant to The
Houston A+ Challenge “Math could be more meaningful to many of today’s
students,” said J. Victor Samuels, trustee, The Houston A+ Challenge
and chairman of Victory Packaging. “They need to understand why multiplication
and division are part of their lives, and to fully grasp the underlying mathematical
connections among these and the many other concepts they will be learning.”
Using the funding from ExxonMobil, the Houston A+ Challenge will design
a project that, when completed, will have a systemic impact on how primary teachers
in kindergarten through third grade in the Greater Houston area implement math
instruction. The project will then be put in place in metropolitan Houston schools.The
Houston A+ Challenge is a $60 million, not-for-profit public, private
partnership directing the largest single sum of private money ever dedicated
to public school reform in the Greater Houston area. The Challenge funds school
programs and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by
all students.Nan Powers Varoga
Director of Public Affairs
Houston A+ Challenge
1001 Fannin, Suite 2210
Houston, TX 77002
713-658-1881