ELIZABETH, N.J. MARCH 12, 2018
The national non-profit organization Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) and Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery, in Linden, N.J., are helping local four-year-olds learn to read by bringing high-quality early literacy instruction and rich children’s book collections to eight Elizabeth Public Schools’ prekindergarten (Pre-K) classrooms.
Advised by Bayway Refinery managers, Phillips 66 recently donated $35,000 to deliver CLI’s Blueprint for Early Literacy Pre-K curriculum supplement and coaching for teachers to eight Elizabeth Public Schools Pre-K classroom serving four-year-olds: five within Mabel G. Holmes School #5 located near the Bayway Refinery, and also three classrooms within Winfield Scott School #2. The investment will benefit eight Pre-K teachers, plus their assistants, and an estimated 120 Elizabeth Public School Pre-K students in a district in which eight out of every 10 students are economically disadvantaged.
CLI’s Blueprint provides Elizabeth Pre-K teachers with 400 daily lesson plans, based on over 100 high-quality children’s books, to help teachers shape children’s perception of literacy and set the foundation for a lifetime love of learning. Through Phillips 66’s gift, CLI is coaching Mable G. Holmes and Winfield Scott Pre-K teachers on how to get the most out of the Blueprint lessons for their students.
Mike Bukowski, Bayway Refinery Manager said, “Our company is proud to support this early learning program, which helps develop reading interests and skills. We feel this program will contribute to the quality and pursuit of education to build vibrant and resilient communities, an important focus area of Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery.”
CLI CEO Joel Zarrow said, “We are grateful that Phillips 66, through the Bayway Refinery, elected to strengthen its community through Blueprint, giving the gift of early literacy to Elizabeth’s youngest citizens.”
About Children’s Literacy Initiative
Established in 1988, Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia. CLI is focused on improving the American education system by ensuring low-income students can read by third grade. The program provides personalized, one-on-one teacher coaching, research-based literacy training, small group coaching, leadership coaching for principals and teacher-leaders and the books and materials classrooms need so that students can become powerful readers, writers and thinkers.
About Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company’s master limited partnership, is an integral asset in the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,600 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had $54 billion of assets as of Dec. 31, 2017. For more information, visit http://www.phillips66.com or follow us on Twitter @Phillips66Co.