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Looking Toward A New Decade

From the CEO - Joel Zarrow, Ph.D.

Hello, 2020! All of us at CLI are proud of what we've achieved in the last decade, but we're really looking forward to what’s to come. This year, we're building on our success in Pre-K by launching a new, comprehensive curriculum called Blueprint for Early Learning. Students in classrooms using Blueprint’s earlier version made 2.5 months more progress on vocabulary development compared to children in similar classrooms using a different approach. For this significant improvement, CLI won an Education Innovation and Research award from the U.S. Department of Education which we're using to bring the same success in early literacy to other areas Pre-K students need, like science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). We can’t wait to bring it to classrooms next school year.

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Blueprint isn't the only thing we're excited about. Providing high quality children’s books is part of CLI’s DNA. As such, we wanted to make sure that we’re providing as many books as possible to as many students as possible. With that in mind, we're thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with First Book, an award-winning non-profit organization that provides millions of books to children and classrooms across the country. This partnership enables CLI to continue to curate the kinds of book collections that engage and excite children, while taking advantage of First Books’ purchasing power and incredible distribution system. We will be able to reach more and more children with great books—right in line with our mission.

As we move forward in 2020, I’m grateful to the support of our donors, partners and advocates for helping us shape the lives of so many students. Together, we’re making a difference and ensuring that all students are given the resources and support they need to become powerful readers, writers and thinkers.

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In Case You Missed It: CLI's Holiday Book Collection

Learning to read is a critical milestone in every child’s education. This crucial step is most often achieved when students have books that reflect them and their lives. So, to help all of our parents and educators find books for their students this year, we compiled a list of our favorites for students in every grade that we serve. Check out the list here.

JUMP!
Stanley's
Who
Puppy Truck

Spotlight: DeAnda Elementary

DeAnda Elementary, a CLI partner school, was ranked #1 on the regional list of Children at Risk Gold Ribbon campuses. Every year, Children at Risk ranks and grades Texas public schools in an effort to increase awareness about the quality of education across Texas. This year, DeAnda Elementary took the top spot for its exceptional school-wide achievement levels. We’re proud not only of our partnership with them, but of the students and teachers who work so hard there every day. Read more about it here.


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Moss Foundation

Donating Books to Rock Island Elementary

A special thanks to the Moss Foundation who donated a book collection to Broward County’s Rock Island Elementary. We’re grateful that the Moss Foundation is helping us continue to work toward a world where every student is given the opportunity to learn how to read. Follow the Moss Foundation on Facebook and Twitter @Mossconstruct.


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CLI Welcomes Frank Gettridge

New National Board of Directors Member

CLI is proud to announce new member, Frank Gettridge, to its national Board of Directors. Gettridge received his B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Morris Brown College, as well as both his M.S. in Child Development and his Ed.D. in Global Executive Education from the University of Southern California, where he wrote his thesis on CLI. He has worked extensively in Chicago schools, culminating in a role as Principal of Clara Barton Elementary from 2011-2013. From 2013-2018, he worked at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation—a long-time supporter of CLI—first as an Education Program Officer, then as a Senior Program Officer. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the National Public Education Support Fund, an organization that supports national and international leaders in education philanthropy, policy, research and practice in order to advance an equity-centered vision for strengthening public schools. CLI is happy to welcome his expertise, guidance, and commitment to education to our Board of Directors.


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CLI's 2019 Annual Report is Out Now

This year's report showcases our amazing growth in 2019 and the impact your support has had on the lives of students and classrooms across the country. Please check out the report here, and see just how many students’ lives we can continue to impact if we work together.

See the latest Annual Report here >>

CLI Annual Report 2019

Gratitude Corner

CLI recognizes the following generous major donors for their recent contributions.

  • Anonymous x3
  • Beckerle-Murrell Family Fund
  • Belinda Morgan
  • Benevity Community Impact Fund
  • Brook J. Lenfest Foundation
  • Bryn Mawr Trust Company
  • C. Eugene Ireland Foundation
  • The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation
  • Children's Services Council of Broward County
  • City of Pompano Beach
  • Clark Hale
  • Cornerstone Foundation - Brad & Kate Vogt
  • Cory Haines
  • Daniel Doran
  • David Kriesman
  • The Donley Foundation
  • Eden Charitable Foundation
  • Foley & Lardner LLP
  • Good Reason Houston
  • Hamilton Family Charitable Trust
  • Harriet Stone
  • Holly Snow & Christopher Allen
  • Holman Automotive Group, Inc.
  • Illinois Tool Works Foundation
  • James P. & Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation
  • Jeanne & Dov Haselkorn
  • Jeffrey Thompson
  • Jim Moran Foundation
  • Joel & Sharon Koppelman
  • John Croll & Jamie Friedlander
  • Kathleen Fox
  • The Lawrence J. & Anne Rubenstein
  • Charitable Foundation
  • Lori Taylor
  • M&T Charitable Foundation
  • Maria & Frank Guyette
  • Michael Banach & Laura Duda
  • Mr. & Mrs. Steven Harris
  • Ms. Julia Batdorf & Joseph Batdorf
  • Network for Good
  • Norman & Jaclyn Goldberger
  • The Petruzzelli/Herrera Fund
  • The Philadelphia Foundation
  • Philadelphia Insurance Companies
  • Phillips 66
  • Powell Foundation
  • PTS Foundation
  • Publix Super Markets, Inc.
  • Richard L. Berkman & Toni Seidl
  • Richard Gluck
  • Robert & Sarah Boser
  • Robert Struck
  • Roger W. Stube
  • Sally Brown McInnes & John McInnes
  • Charitable Trust
  • Sandra & James St. George
  • Sarah Leppo
  • The Selander Foundation
  • Shell Oil Company Foundation Matching Gifts
  • Steans Family Foundation
  • Summit Park East Associates
  • Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
  • TisBest Philanthropy
  • United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey
  • Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania
  • Vert Charitable Trust
  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Walter J. Miller Trust
  • Le Warres Charitable Fund
  • Wells Fargo Government & Community Relations Group
  • William Lazebnik
  • William Penn Foundation
  • The Woolley Family

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