The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people’s children. –Marian Write Edelman
The McConnell Foundation’s commitment to youth and education began with Carl and Leah McConnell, who personally contributed to improving the lives and education of children and youth in our communities. Building on that commitment, the Foundation continued funding children, youth, and education projects and programs beginning in 1989. Over the years, its funding approach has evolved — from early efforts between 1989 and 2000, to long-term programmatic funding from 2001 through 2015, and, since 2016, to a framework centered on collaborating with community partners to foster student success from cradle through career.
The Early Years: 1989 – 2000
From 1989 through 2000, the Foundation awarded over $5.7 million, primarily to youth groups, high schools, and community colleges. Early grants supported things such as sports fields, computers, software, musical instruments, and science labs. Additionally, funding began for the Foundation’s environmental program in Yosemite, which started in 1989.
Initial Program Work: 2001 – 2015
Realizing the importance of flexibility in funding, in 1999 the Foundation began to look at long- term programmatic approaches to improving the lives and education of our young people and formally included education as a focus area for funding. The Foundation aimed to address the comprehensive needs of children and youth, acknowledging that factors such as nutrition, physical activity, and overall health directly influence school readiness and performance. The Foundation also recognized that broader community aspirations impact youth development and education.
Between 2001 and 2015, the Foundation invested more than $22.3 million in our communities through the Children, Youth, and Education program. These grants targeted a broad range of regional issues and needs, including:
- Studies for small school district unification
- Development of a regional, multi-partner college and career opportunity and
outreach program - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) K-12 education
Classical music development for children - Teen and youth development center in a rural health clinic
- Comprehensive support for increasing post-secondary education opportunities for
area youth - Developmental asset-approached work for area youth
- Support for public university programs in partnership with local community
colleges - Early childhood literacy development through a book lending program
- Support for regional college-going culture activities
- Scholarships for local students to participate in field studies around the world
- Early childhood STEAM and environmental education
- Support for distance learning opportunities
- Support for a regional kindergarten-readiness assessment
- Development of a multi-faceted approach to combat childhood obesity
- Support for expanding an innovative pre-K to kindergarten transition program
Current Framework: 2016 – now
In 2015, the Foundation began to realign its focus on children, youth, and education by looking at investments in student success — from cradle through career. Beginning in 2016, under this new framework, the Foundation collaborates with community partners in our five-county region, investing in long-term programs to create a student success pipeline that supports individuals from birth through college and career fostering productive, involved citizens in all of our communities.
