The Rex Organization continues its ongoing commitment to help New Orleans Schools as the Pro Bono Publico Foundation announced 2015-16 grants totaling $1 million to 60 recipients. Grant checks were awarded at a special event at the Rex den on Saturday, January 9, attended by hundreds of educators and leaders of supporting organizations. The event also honored the ongoing commitment and important work of Teach for America in the New Orleans Region.

Those 60 grants benefit 64 schools and 28 supporting and advocacy organizations.

The 2016 grant total marks the fifth consecutive year Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s grants exceed half a million dollars. In 2012 and 2013 the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, thanks to the support of its donors, was able to award grants of approximately $545,000 each year. That figure reached more than $740,000 in 2014 and $860,000 in 2015.

“The generosity of those donating to such a worthy cause has been tremendous as the Pro Bono Publico Foundation hits this $1 million milestone,” said Foundation Chairman Storey Charbonnet. “We’ve seen continued annual growth in contributions to help invest in our community’s future by promoting a strong educational environment for children.”

The grants exemplify PBPF’s drive to assure that all of New Orleans’ children have access to excellent schools. Ninety-three percent of New Orleans students now attend public charter schools. These schools, and organizations supporting their important work, have been the focus of PBPF’s investment, as well as the commitment of dozens of Rex members serving on their boards.

The Pro Bono Publico Foundation was formed by members of the Rex Organization as New Orleans recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Foundation giving, in its ninth grant cycle since 2007, now totals $4.4 million in cumulative cash contributions to schools.

The open house also highlights the success of Teach for America in bolstering the local charter school movement. TFA’s more than 1,200 corps members and alumni are teaching and leading across the Greater New Orleans region, and today, seven of 10 public school students in the city of New Orleans attend a school featuring TFA corps members or alumni. Teach for America received $60,000, the Foundation’s largest grant.

The Foundation raises funds primarily from donations from Rex members, but the Foundation also draws support from other foundations and the business community. The Harry Howard Foundation has helped underwrite the development of critically needed after-school programs. IberiaBank has been a generous corporate supporter, and this year Adidas teamed with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to support the Foundation’s work.

Quick Facts:

• 2015-16 Grants total $1 million and giving since 2007 totals $4.4 million
• 2015-16 grants awarded to 64 individual schools and 28 supporting and advocacy organizations
• Through a grant to the NORD Foundation, the PBPF continues to sponsor activities at Taylor Playground, adjacent to the Rex Den
• Through the generosity of the Harry Howard Foundation, the PBPF continues to develop a pilot program providing after-school academic and enrichment programs

2016 Pro Bono Publico Foundation Grantees

• 4POINT0 Schools
• Algiers Charter School Association
• Arise Academy
• Audubon Charter School
• Bayou District Foundation
• Belle Chasse Academy
• Benjamin Franklin High School
• Breakthrough NO
• Bricolage Academy
• Center for Development and Learning
• Choice Foundation
• Citizens Committee for Education dab Homer A. Plessy
• City Year New Orleans
• College Bridge New Orleans
• College Track
• Collegiate Academies
• Communities in Schools of Greater New Orleans, Incl
• Crescent City Schools
• Cypress Charter School Association DBA Cypress Academy
• Education Pioneers
• Einstein Group, Inc.
• First Line Schools
• Greater New Orleans STEM Initiative DBA Core Element
• InspireNOLA Charter Schools
• International High School of New Orleans
• International School of Louisiana
• Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy East
• Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy West
• Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
• KID smART
• KIPP New Orleans Schools
• Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
• Leading Educators
• Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans
• Live Oak Wilderness Camp
• Louisiana Alliance of Charter Schools (East Bank Collaborative)
• Louisiana Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
• Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
• McDonough City Park Academy
• McMillian’s First Steps
• New Leaders – GNO
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute
• New Orleans College Preparatory Academics
• New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy
• New Schools for New Orleans
• NORD Foundation for Taylor Park Booster Club
• Policy Institute for Children
• Raphael Academy
• Roots of Music
• St. Mary’s Academy
• St. Michael Special School
• Stand for Children Louisiana
• Start the Adventure in Reading, STAIR
• Teach for America GNO
• The Chartwell Center
• The Foundation for Science & Mathematics Education
• The Good Shepherd School
• The Posse Foundation, Inc.
• Tulane University Cowen Institute
• Warren Easton Charter School Foundation
• YA YA – Young Aspirations/Young Artists, Inc.

In an event held at the Rex den on Saturday, January 10, the Rex Organization and the Pro Bono Publico Foundation welcomed hundreds of Teach for America Corps Members and alums as well as others engaged in the transformation of New Orleans public schools. Foundation leaders awarded nearly $860,000 in grants, including $50,000 to support Teach for America’s important work.

Grants were awarded to 27 individual schools and charter management organizations and 21 supporting organizations. Taylor Park, the NORD facility adjacent to the Rex den, received its fourth sponsorship grant.

The grants help assure that all of New Orleans’ children have access to excellent schools. More than 90% of New Orleans students now attend public charter schools. These schools, and organizations supporting their important work, have been the focus of PBPF’s investment, as well as the commitment of dozens of Rex members serving on their boards.

The Pro Bono Publico Foundation was formed by members of the Rex Organization as New Orleans recovered from post-Hurricane Katrina floods. Foundation giving, in its eigth grant cycle since 2007, now totals more than $3.4 million.

The 2015 grant total marks the fourth consecutive year Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s grants have exceeded half a million dollars. In 2012 and 2013 the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, thanks to the support of its donors, was able to award grants of approximately $545,000 each year. That figure reached $740,000 in 2014.

The open house also highlights a winning combination for local schools in terms of support. Teach for America has been essential to the success of the charter school movement. TFA’s 340 corps members and 860 alums now reach one in five students in the New Orleans Delta Region.

Quick Facts:

• 2014-15 Grants total $860,000 and giving since 2007 totals more than $3.4 million
• 2014-15 grants awarded to 27 individual schools and charter management organizations and 21 supporting organizations
• Through a grant to the NORD Foundation, the PBPF continues to sponsor activities at Taylor Playground, adjacent to the Rex Den
• Through the generosity of the Harry Howard Foundation, the PBPF continues to develop a pilot program providing after-school academic and enrichment programs

For more information on the Pro Bono Publico Foundation please visit the PBPF website at www.probonopublicofoundation.org

In an event held at the Rex den on Saturday January 11, the Rex Organization and the Pro Bono Publico Foundation welcomed hundreds of Teach for America Corps Members and alums as well as others engaged in the transformation of New Orleans public schools. Foundation leaders awarded nearly $750,000 in grants, including $50,000 to support Teach for America’s critical work.

Grants were awarded to 24 individual schools and charter management organizations and 16 supporting organizations. Taylor Park, the NORD facility adjacent to the Rex den, received its third sponsorship grant.

The grants help assure that all of New Orleans’ children have access to excellent schools. More than 90% of New Orleans students now attend public charter schools. These schools, and organizations supporting their important work, have been the focus of PBPF’s investment, as well as the commitment of dozens of Rex members serving on their boards.

The Pro Bono Publico Foundation was formed by members of the Rex Organization as New Orleans recovered from post-Hurricane Katrina floods. Foundation giving, in its seventh grant cycle since 2007, now totals more than $2.4 million.

The 2014 grant total marks the third consecutive year Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s grants exceed half a million dollars. In 2012 and 2013 the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, thanks to the support of its donors, was able to award grants of approximately $545,000 each year.

The open house also highlights a winning combination for local schools in terms of support. Teach for America has been essential to the success of the charter school movement by staffing the city’s schools with at least 500 of its teachers.

Quick Facts:

• 2013-14 Grants total more than $740,000 and giving since 2007 totals more than $2.4 million
• 2013-14 grants awarded to 24 individual schools and charter management organizations and 16 supporting organizations
• Through a grant to the NORD Foundation, the PBPF continues to sponsor activities at Taylor Playground, adjacent to the Rex Den
• Through the generosity of the Harry Howard Foundation, the PBPF continues to develop a pilot program providing after-school academic and enrichment programs
• For more information on the Pro Bono Publico Foundation please visit the PBPF website at www.probonopublicofoundation.org
• For specific information on the PBPF 2013-14 Grant Cycle you may download the 2013-14 PBPF Fact Sheet.

The Rex Organization celebrated its ongoing commitment to the charter school movement in New Orleans when the Pro Bono Publico Foundation presented grants totaling $545,000 to a leaders of charter schools and other organizations supporting the transformation of New Orleans public schools.

At a reception held at the Rex den on Saturday, Jan. 12, Rex welcomed over 300 Teach for America Corps members and alums and honored them along with others working so effectively to assure New Orleans’ children can attend excellent schools.

Teach for America received its third grant from the PBPF. TFA has been essential to the success of the charter school movement by helping staff the city’s classrooms with 500 of its teachers. Kira Orange Jones, TFA’s Executive Director, thanked the Foundation for its gift and described the impact of the work done by the young educators gathered in the den.

The Rex Organization, through the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, is a leader among those in the community offering support for school reform. Thanks to the support of its donors the 2013 grant total matches the $545,000 awarded in 2012. Since its founding the PBPF has awarded over $1.6 million in grants.

Members of the Rex Organization formed the Pro Bono Publico Foundation in 2006 to help support the recovery of the city after Hurricane Katrina’s floods. Funds are raised primarily from Rex members, and the Foundation’s giving is focused on charter schools and supporting organizations.

New Orleans public schools have become a national model as it has transformed its failed public school system primarily through an emphasis on high-accountability, open-admission, high-standards charter schools. That effort has been successful through broad community support, helping to assure each of our children has the opportunity to attend an excellent school.

Rex has actively supported that effort, through volunteers serving on boards of schools and supporting organizations and through the Foundation’s grants.