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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ChevronTexaco Donates $200,000 to Saint Vincent's Day Home Family-Literacy Program in West Oakland
Senator Perata and Mayor Brown Applaud Efforts to Provide Early Childhood Education, Adult Literacy, Adult Basic Education and Skills Training to Hundreds of Families
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Pictured left to right:
- Sola Omole, ChrevronTexaco, Special Advisor Corporate Responsibility & Community Engagement
- Corinne M. Mohrmann, Executive Director of Saint Vincent's Day Home
- Mayor Jerry Brown, City of Oakland
- Hon. Carol A. Corrigan, Saint Vincent’s Day Home Board President
- Ignacio De La Fuente, President of Oakland City Council
- Senator Don Perata, California State Senator
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OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 11, 2005 – To improve literacy among hundreds of Oakland families, on February 4th Saint Vincent’s Day Home announced that ChevronTexaco was contributing $200,000 to its Bridging the Divides project, which provides early childhood education, adult literacy, adult basic education and skills training.
“Many of our children have parents or extended family members who strive to improve their literacy,” said Carol A. Corrigan, president of Saint Vincent’s Day Home Board of Directors. “ChevronTexaco’s generous grant underscores its commitment to this community and to addressing the challenges faced by adult learners.”
Saint Vincent’s Day Home primarily serves single-parent families. Each day, 240 children attend the Day Home while their parents work, attend accredited schools or attend skills training programs. The Day Home provides families with parental-skills training, economic assistance and job-skills counseling, as well as access to healthcare, housing and immigration services.
“Kids read when their parents read and perform better in school when their parents are better educated and more highly skilled, particularly in underserved communities like West Oakland,” said California State Senator Don Perata. “The blend of Saint Vincent’s Day Home’s innovative thinking along with ChevronTexaco’s financial commitment creates a much-needed recipe for economic independence.”
“Education programs directed at both children and parents help to play a critical role in revitalizing economically disadvantaged communities,” said Sola Omole, special adviser for Community Engagement at ChevronTexaco. “Bridging the Divides gives West Oakland parents a chance to secure better futures for themselves and their children.”
Bridging the Divides targets 200 families and will bring together technology, teachers and adult students to:
- develop and test models for virtual learning;
- identify individual interests and potential for obtaining jobs or advancement;
- coordinate project activities and develop best practices for adult education;
- increase family self-sustainability through vocational training.
“Through this program, Saint Vincent’s Day Home and ChevronTexaco are making a big difference for more than 200 Oakland families,” stated Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown. “Bridging the Divides will boost Oakland’s economic revitalization by making parents job-ready and instill a sense of hope and pride in our youth.”
Since first opening its doors in 1911, Saint Vincent’s Day Home has welcomed more than 30,000 children and their families. Its long history of nurturing children and sustaining families has made it one of the most respected child development centers in the country.
02/11/05
Contacts:
- Sister Ann Maureen, Saint Vincent’s Day Home – 510-832-8324
- Matt Lonner, ChevronTexaco – 925-842-0600
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