The foundation of the Rotary Club of Edina recently awarded a $5,000 grant to Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES).
Founded in 1994 to help close the academic achievement gap in Minnesota, ACES provides after-school programming to students in Grades 4-8 in Minneapolis and St. Paul using an innovative curriculum that blends sports and math to spark learning.
 
“The mission of ACES is to help reduce the academic achievement gap and improvement the likelihood of success for students in underserved communities,” said Executive Director Christina Saunders. “Our vision is that ACES students succeed in college and career and become engaged citizens in safe and equitable communities.”
 
The grant will be used to purchase whiteboards and mobile laptop carts with equipment. The carts will each house 20 Chromebooks, projector and speakers. One cart will be placed at each program site, including the Linwood Monroe Arts Plus and East Side Boys & Girls Club in St. Paul and the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club and Hiawatha College Prep in Minneapolis.
Money for grants awarded by the Edina Rotary Foundation is raised at an annual fall fundraiser and gala and donations made throughout the year.
 
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.
 
For more information about the Rotary Club of Edina, visit www.EdinaRotary.org. For more information about Community Service – Local Funding, contact Director Kelley Burnett, 612-770-8855 or kburnett@amfam.com.