CIS and SVPC Introduce "Partners for Success"

January 2010

Social Venture Partners Charlotte (SVPC) and Communities In Schools are partnering to  recruit companies, civic, and faith groups to support neediest schools.

      The core mission of Communities In Schools is to provide support and resources to the schools that need it most - schools with high poverty rates and limited parent and other volunteer support.  Schools like Walter G. Byers Elementary, where more than 95 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.  The student population is very transient with many homeless families, making it difficult for teachers and staff to provide consistent support. Currently there is no after-school program at Byers and very few extra-curricular activities. School supplies and uniforms are always in short supply and there is very little PTA participation.“Even though this is our first year at Walter G. Byers, we welcome the challenge and are more committed than ever to assist those students and families in need,” said Bill Anderson, CIS Executive Director.  “Eighty-eight percent of the students in the 17 elementary schools CIS supports are economically disadvantaged,  compared to 53 percent of elementary school students district-wide.”

      But now CIS is receiving a huge boost in its efforts to recruit companies, civic groups, and communities of faith to provide volunteers and in-kind resources for these neediest of schools.  In February 2009, CIS developed a partnership with Social Venture Partners Charlotte (SVPC) to introduce “Partners for Success,” a new initiative to publicize the need and help recruit corporate and community partnerships to support CIS school sites. 

      SVPC combines financial contributions and professional skills with a passion for philanthropy to effect long-term social change in Charlotte. SVPC partners give of their time, expertise,  creativity and money to develop and support social initiatives and nonprofit organizations that will have a measurable, sustainable and positive impact in the community. 

      The SVPC partnership with CIS made it possible to add staff member Sherry Waters as CIS Resource Coordinator who oversees the new Partners for Success initiative.  After joining CIS  in March of last year, Waters spent her first few months visiting the CIS sites and assessing each school’s needs.     

      “All CIS sites have the need for more support, but some schools clearly have fewer resources than others,” said Waters. “We’re trying to identify the gaps and prioritize the schools that have the least support from outside groups.” 

      After assessing all of the CIS sites, four elementary schools - Allenbrook, Hidden Valley,  Walter G. Byers, and Winterfield -  were identified as having the most urgent need for more support. Partners for Success is focused on these four schools currently, but considers all CIS schools when matching potential partners.

      During the past 10 months since Partners for Success was initiated, several significant partnerships have been established, including the following:

·     A division of BB&T’s corporate office is partnering with Allenbrook Elementary, providing classroom supplies, volunteers and financial support.

·     UPS is partnering with the Performance Learning Center. UPS has donated over $10,000 to support various school projects and employees are also volunteering at the school.

·     Partners for Success facilitated the recent partnership between Watershed Church and Walter G. Byers Elementary. Over 75 church members are volunteering at the school on a regular basis.

      In addition to recruiting new partners, another key goal for the initiative is to support and strengthen the existing partnerships that CIS already has in place.  “CIS had a number of dedicated partners already supporting our schools before Partners for Success was formed,” said Waters. “These companies and groups provide excellent examples for potential partners.  We also want to provide our current partners with the support they need from CIS to make their partnership a productive and powerful one.”

      CIS is also promoting the Partners for Success initiative through Crossroads Charlotte, a group of Charlotte-area agencies and business leaders working together to make the Charlotte community a better place for all to live and work.

      “We’re working hard to inform the community and help businesses and groups see the value and importance of their involvement in the schools and the lives of our community’s young people,” said Waters. “Once people visit a school and see the need first-hand, it’s pretty easy to get their commitment.  We’re pointing them in the right direction and making the connections.”

      Mike Harrell, an SVPC partner and business owner whose own company has “adopted” a school, added that companies and groups will find it is not just the school and students who are benefiting.  “Partnerships such as these benefit the company by encouraging teamwork around a common goal, boosting company morale, and creating a unique company culture,” said Harrell.  “It’s a win-win for all parties involved.”