BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (September 17, 2021) – Students at Jane Phillips Elementary will soon have new reading books as a result of a $5,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation to Bartlesville Education Promise.
Arvest mortgage lender Jill Carse presented the check to Bartlesville Education Promise chairman Martin Garber, vice chairman Vanessa Drummond and Jane Phillips Elementary principal Kevin Brown.
“It is our pleasure to present this check on behalf of the Arvest Foundation,” Carse said. “We support the mission of Bartlesville Education Promise to improve educational outcomes for students and are happy students at Jane Phillips will have new books for reading development.”
Bartlesville Education Promise works with local students and public schools to identify unmet needs and then develop appropriate programs with the goal of improving graduation rates and readiness for higher education, technical school or full-time employment.
The donation from the Arvest Foundation will be used to purchase books for students at Jane Phillips Elementary School to be used as learning tools and to enhance their reading skills.
“Bartlesville Education Promise is truly appreciative of the support from the Arvest Foundation,” said Garber. “Improved graduation rates of Bartlesville students is our highest priority and studies have shown that those students that have not learned to read by the third grade are four times more likely not to graduate from high school. The Arvest Foundation grant will allow us to provide books to all students at Jane Phillips Elementary School prior to Christmas and Spring Break so that students can read age-appropriate books at home during the breaks. Once the student comes back to school after the breaks, teachers will be utilizing the books to stress reading and comprehension in the classroom.”
About the Arvest Foundation
The Arvest Foundation seeks to provide funding to grantees who are actively working to create positive change for others. Major areas of focus include: K-12 education, economic development, and enhancing the quality of life throughout the Arvest footprint.