Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2011

SCHUMER HELPS SECURE OVER $400,000 FEDERAL AWARD FOR ‘GREATER HUDSON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD’ PROJECT; SUPPORTS CATHOLIC CHARITY’S WORK GUIDING HUDSON CITY YOUTH TO GRADUATION AND JOBS

Dept. of Education Grant to Catholic Charities of Albany Will Help Guide Students in the Hudson City School District Towards Graduation and Success in the Job Market

Schumer’s Letter to Sec. Duncan in Support of the Investment Highlighted the Successful Partnership Between Catholic Charities and Hudson City Schools

Schumer: Federal Investment Will Be A Big Boost To Hudson Youth

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany (CCDA) has been awarded over $408,000 from the Department of Education’s Promise Neighborhood Grants Program. This federal funding will build on the work of CCDA and continue much-needed aid for the students in the Hudson City School District. Schumer’s request to DOE Secretary Arne Duncan helped secure a significant first-year award that is anticipated to help support CCDA’s 95 year-long tradition of service to the region.

“This investment is great news for Catholic Charities in Albany and will help them more effectively work with Hudson City youth to guide them to graduation and success in the job market,” said Schumer. “This award will help boost graduation rates amongst the Capital Region’s youth and help them land good-paying jobs and give back to our communities in the future.”

Schumer’s letter highlighted that the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood Project will address the needs of children within the Hudson City School District. With two of the four schools identified as persistently low performing and a graduation rate of 59 percent, the children and families of this community stand to benefit greatly from this investment. The Hudson City School District falls significantly below the state median on a performance index and only one out of four eighth-graders meet graduation standards, according to a recent New York Times study. Schumer is confident that investments like this Promise Neighborhood grant will help Greater Hudson meet some of the challenges that have resulted from difficult economic times.

Schumer also praised the competence of CCDA, a division of Catholic Charities USA, which has served the Capital Region since 1917. Their school reform vision focuses on increasing graduation rates, participation in school activities, test scores, and performance outcomes. Working Groups, advisory boards, and a fundraising team will work actively with local leaders, residents, and expert consultants to carefully collect, organize, and process real and current data. The grant will also help promote school readiness, successful transitions to adulthood, skillful parenting, access to health care (including mental health), and an environment where youth are encouraged to participate in the arts and humanities.

A copy of Senator Schumer’s December letter of support to Secretary Duncan appears below:

December 2, 2011

The Honorable Arne Duncan

Secretary

US Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary:

I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by the Catholic Charities of Diocese of Albany for funding under the Promise Neighborhoods Program. Such funding will enable the Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany to implement its Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood Project.

The Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood Project will address the needs of children within the Hudson City School District. With two of the four schools identified as persistently low performing and a graduation rate of 59 percent, the children and families of this community need help. These challenges are magnified by the fact that economically the area has been hit by a spiral of manufacturing job losses in the city, has minimal transportation, and struggles to raise poverty levels.

Through partnerships with the Hudson City School District and others, the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood will work with the school district to identify needs and create a plan to meet them, promoting school readiness, successful transitions to adulthood, parenting skills, access to health care, and an environment where youth are encouraged to participate in the arts and humanities. Catholic Charities and the Hudson City School District have a successful history of collaboration, and I applaud them for their foresight. I sincerely hope this application meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration. For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Grants Director, Grant Kerr, in my Washington office at 202.224.6542.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

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