PNC Foundation Provides $2.1 Million for Science, Arts Education in Detroit Preschools

The Pittsburgh-based PNC Foundation has announced a $2.1 million investment in the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, the Detroit Science Center, and the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts to establish new programs in science and the arts for underserved preschool children in Detroit Public Schools.

Marking the local launch of PNC Grow Up Great, a ten-year, $100 million initiative to improve early childhood education, the investment will leverage the capacities of the Detroit Science Center and the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts to create new programs in preschool teacher training, add activities to enhance the arts and sciences curriculum of the Detroit Public Schools pre-K program, and engage parents in their children's learning experiences.

Starting in June, seven Detroit schools will offer preschool science and arts programs as part of a pilot summer program serving approximately two hundred children, while the professional development aspect of the program will enhance training for twelve teachers and twelve teaching assistants in participating classrooms. Following completion of the pilot, the program will operate for an additional two school years and will include an independent evaluation of its success. Based on the results of that evaluation, the program may be expanded to reach more children and teachers.

"Establishing a foundation in basic skills during a child's early years is vital to competing in an economy increasingly based on knowledge and ability," said James E. Rohr, chairman and CEO of the PNC Financial Services Group, the principal source of funding for the PNC Foundation. "The investment we make now in the children of Detroit lays the groundwork for their future and that of this region."

Walmart Foundation Awards $1.2 Million to Install Solar Panels on Schools

The Walmart Foundation has announced a $1.2 million grant to the National Energy Education Development Project for a project that will put solar panels on twenty schools in five cities across the country.

Through the Walmart Solar School program, NEED will work with school districts in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Seattle to identify the schools that participate in the effort. NEED expects the solar panels to generate some 150,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, which would save the schools more than $15,000 in energy costs and prevent more than one hundred tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

In addition to supporting Walmart's renewable energy goals and commitment to education, the grant will help create and sustain a variety of green jobs, including engineering, design, and installer technician positions. All the panels used in the program will be manufactured in the United States.

"The Walmart Solar School program will help educate the next generation on the opportunities and benefits of using more renewable energy," said Walmart Foundation president Margaret McKenna. "This program aligns perfectly with Walmart's sustainability commitment to involve our communities and customers in our environmental and social efforts."

Hewlett Foundation Announces $84 Million in Second-Quarter Grants

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $84 million to nearly two hundred organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the globe.

A total of $24.9 million in grants was awarded to forty-seven organizations through the foundation's environment program, including $500,000 to the Health Effects Institute for a project to conduct scientific research on the health effects of air pollution and share the results with policy makers and the public. Population grants totaling $21 million were awarded to nineteen organizations, including EngenderHealth, Pathfinder International, PATH, and DKT International, which received $5.5 million for its efforts to provide family planning and reproductive healthcare services in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions in the developing world. In the area of global development, the foundation awarded a total of $18.2 million to seventeen organizations, including $7.5 million to Pratham USA to expand a program that has improved the reading and math skills of ten million children in primary schools in India.

Other grants included $800,000 to the Bridgespan Group for general operating support; $750,000 to the State of the USA to create a set of measurements to assess the nation's progress on health care; $400,000 to the Alliance for Excellent Education to help develop policies and teacher training that brings deeper learning to more schools nationally; and $135,000 to the Ali Akbar College of Music to continue offering courses on traditional North Indian classical music as expressed by the late Ali Akbar Khan, considered the preeminent master of the form.

For a complete list of the foundation's second-quarter grants, visit the Hewlett Foundation Web site.

PepsiCo Foundation Awards $6 Million to Diplomas Now Collaborative

The PepsiCo Foundation has announced a three-year, $6 million grant to the Diplomas Now collaborative for efforts to address high dropout rates in select cities across the country.

Launched two years ago with a $5 million grant from the PepsiCo Foundation, Diplomas Now combines the resources of City Year, Communities In Schools, and the John Hopkins Talent Development High Schools Program to help at-risk middle and high school students get back on track, graduate, and prepare for college and a career. The grant will be used to expand the program in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and San Antonio and to establish new programs in other cities, including Detroit.

The program's turnaround model hinges on research conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Social Organization of Schools and the Philadelphia Education Fund which found that 75 percent of America's high school dropouts can be "flagged" between sixth and ninth grades by monitoring "off-track indicators" such as poor attendance and behavior and failing grades in English or math. Diplomas Now monitors these indicators and responds at the first warning sign with interventions tailored to students' needs. In the program's first year, it exceeded its goal of reducing off-track indicators by 25 percent among students in schools where the program was implemented.

"Examining early-warning indicators and working closely with school administrators and teachers, we identify off-track students and develop customized strategies to get them back on track and keep them there," said Robert Balfanz, director of the John Hopkins Talent Development High Schools Program. "PepsiCo Foundation's contribution will help expand our efforts in key cities and ensure effective school reform, consistent hands-on student engagement, and tailored interventions for high-risk students."

Panera Bread Company Opens a Nonprofit Restaurant in St. Louis

The national bakery and restaurant chain Panera Bread Company has opened a nonprofit restaurant in St. Louis that asks customers to pay what they want for a meal, the Associated Press reports.

If the restaurant, St. Louis Bread Company Cares, which is backed by the Panera Bread Foundation, can sustain itself financially, Panera will expand the model to other cities within months. While the foundation will cover the restaurant's expenses, including staff salaries, rent, and food costs, Panera will share its distribution system and national food suppliers with the restaurant. According to the AP, Panera will not bear any losses if the experiment fails.

Other organizations have opened community kitchens where customers set the price, including the One World Salt Lake City restaurant, which has been in business since 2003 and does not get overrun by crowds, said founder Denise Cerreta of One World Everybody Eats. "It somehow stays in balance," said Cerreta. "I think ultimately people are good. They want to contribute."

A Note from our Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs

Thank you to all who showed up for our initial 2010-2011 Fundraising Committee meetings. I know that we all have a number of demands on our schedule, so the fact that everyone took the time out to come, is even more welcome. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 25th from 5:30-7:00pm at The Palm Beach School for Autism in Cottage #18. At this meeting we will discuss the calendar of events for the year and specific goals & objectives for each event in order for us to reach our goal of $50,000.
Hope to see you all and we are looking forward to working together to make this year a huge success.

Sincerely,
Dawn D'Amato & Steve Carroll

National Autism Association Urges Florida Governor's Refusal of Flawed Restraint & Seclusion Bill

National Autism Association Urges Florida Governor's Refusal of Flawed Restraint & Seclusion Bill - http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-autism-association-urges-florida-governors-refusal-of-flawed-restraint--seclusion-bill-92874484.html

The National Autism Association (NAA) today is asking parents and advocates for children to contact Florida governor Charlie Crist, urging that he not sign legislation that has been stripped of its original intent to protect children from harmful restraint and seclusion practices in Florida schools. This alarming trend is on the rise nationwide.

Gluten-free and Casein-free diets in the treatment of ASD

Gluten-free and Casein-free diets in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review - http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ltc/gfcf_review.pdf

This paper systematically reviews research on the effects of gluten-free and/or casein-free (GFCF) diets in the treatment of ASD. Database, hand, and ancestry searches identified 15 articles for review. Each study was analyzed and summarized in terms of (a) participants, (b) specifics of the intervention, (c) dependent variables, (d) results, and (e) certainty of evidence. Critical analysis of each study’s methodological rigor and results reveal that the current corpus of research does not support the use of GFCF diets in the treatment of ASD. Given the lack of empirical support, and the adverse consequences often associated with GFCF diets (e.g., stigmatization, diversion of treatment resources, reduced bone cortical thickness), such diets should only be implemented in the event a child with ASD experiences acute behavioral changes, seemingly associated with changes in diet, and/or medical professionals confirm through testing the child has allergies or food intolerances to gluten and/or casein.

2nd Annual Lantana Chili Cook-Off

The 2nd Annual Lantana Chili Cook-Off was a huge success. Over 3,000 people came out to enjoy a great day of Chili, Classic Cars, Music, Craft Vendors and whole lot of FUN! Congratulations to Victory Sports Grill, http://tinyurl.com/37u6vlu, for taking 1st place in the Chili Cook-Off and winning $500. Boy was their chili tasty. We can't wait for next year.

Surfers for Autism

For those of you who were unable to attend the 3rd Annual Surfers for Autism event in Deerfield Beach on Saturday April 10th; you missed out. Don Ryan knows how to make a chaotic event, seem very organized. It was incredible to look out on the ocean and see hundreds of children with autism all learning to surf. Way to go Don and all of your volunteers. Follow this link to see a time lapse video of the day. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=378244847953#!/video/video.php?v=378244847953&ref=mf

The next Surfers for Autism event is on Sunday May 16th in Juno Beach. Stop by and say 'Hi' to us at The Palm Beach School for Autism tent.

Spring Break at PBSA

It's hard to believe there are only 71 days of the school year left. This has been another hugely successful year for our students in the preschool and elementary school. Our preschool is graduating 10 students this year; one of our largest graduating classes yet. But before we can start thinking about graduation, our students go on Spring Break starting this Thursday. Take this time to practice the 3 R's: Rest, Relax, Rejoice. Be happy knowing that all of our students have such an opportunity to increase their abilities at such a wonderful school. It wouldn't be at all possible if it weren't for our dedicated teaching staff and our committed parents. I say thank you.

Over $10,000 Raised at Italian Dinner & Dance

After months of hard work on the part of Michelle Brown, parent of an elementary school student at The Palm Beach School for Autism, numerous volunteers and School staff, the First Annual Italian Dinner & Dance was a HUGE success. There were over 200 guests in attendance at the Elks Lodge in Delray Beach. It was great to see old friends and new ones getting together for such a great cause. In my opinion, one of the things that made this event so great, was that it was a "family friendly" event where parents could bring their children and everyone could enjoy themselves; especially those parents who have children with special needs. This could be the beginning of a trend of "family friendly" events hosted by the School.

Hope to see you at our next event on Sunday, February 7th for the Super Bowl at a mansion in Delray Beach.