Paul Purcell "Kids Win!" Annual Baird Education Grant

Chicago, Illinois

Founded in 1986, Big Shoulders Fund is an independent charitable organization supporting a network of 92 schools that provide a quality, values-based education for students in under-resourced neighborhoods.

This grant will launch Teach From Within, a pilot program to support future Chicago teachers interested in serving their home communities.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

City Year’s mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership and social entrepreneurship, with a focus on improving education outcomes and helping all students graduate from high school.

This grant will deploy diverse teams of AmeriCorps members to tutor and mentor more than 300 students in Milwaukee’s Carver Academy.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

COA Youth & Family Centers nurture children, support families, and build strong resilient communities – one child, one family and one community at a time.

This grant will fund their College and Career Readiness Program, which helps drive personal and academic growth among Milwaukee youths.

Minneapolis, Minnesota      

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Twin Cities strives to provide access to a Catholic, Jesuit, college and career preparatory education to unlock the potential of students of any culture, faith or creed and transform their communities.

This grant will support their Corporate Work Study program, where students receive hands-on professional experience working at one of 131 organizations in the Twin Cities.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy seeks to nurture scholars capable of transforming their world by sending them to and through college and helping them become productive citizens who contribute to society.

This grant will help fund the construction of state-of-the-art high school and middle school facilities in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Freedom School Partners inspires their scholars to love reading and learning, believe in themselves and create extraordinary futures.

This grant will fund the operations of their summer learning site, which helps build the literacy and social-emotional skills of more than 50 Charlotte-area grade school students.

Denver, Colorado

Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future and change the world.

This grant will support their College Access Mentoring Program, which provides their students with college readiness, admissions prep and financial assistance.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nazareth Prep is an independent Catholic high school that provides an affordable, innovative education focused on college and career readiness.

This grant will fund their cutting-edge internship program, where students receive mentorship from leaders at top organizations across the Pittsburgh area.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

St. Joan Antida High School embraces the individuality of each student, engages her intellect, and empowers her to positively impact the community with confidence.

This grant will fund their Career Pathways Program, which enables their students to explore their potential in fast-growing career fields like business, engineering, IT and health sciences.

Chicago, IL

The Academy for Urban School Leadership is a nonprofit organization that provides equity-focused programming to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested communities.

The grant will support specialized training for aspiring teachers of K-3rd grade students with identified disabilities. Specifically, five teacher residents will be supported as they receive their master's degrees and state licenses, and will learn in the classroom under the guidance of an experienced mentor teacher. The support of this educational cohort will have an impact to an estimated 120 children/year.

Denver, CO

Our mission is to provide children of low-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice.

The grant will help provide educational scholarships for 40 economically disadvantaged K-12 students in Colorado, providing life changing access to quality education. Additionally, ACE forges partnerships with schools and families to support each individual student as they progress though secondary school and beyond.

Milwaukee, WI

All-In Milwaukee is a college completion program that provides financial aid, advising, program and career support to 320 high potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students to complete college, build meaningful careers and transform the Milwaukee community.

The grant will help expand career programming to an additional 125 diverse and limited-income college scholars. This grant will be used to provide cutting edge career assessments, eight career development sessions, as well as support a Scholar Advisor staff person. This dedicated person will be focused on scholars' career development, internship and job placement to build out diverse talent pipelines for the City of Milwaukee and beyond.

Chicago, IL

Our mission is to inspire hope and offer opportunities so youth facing systemic obstacles can achieve positive futures.

The grant will help expand the "BUILDing Futures" program to support an additional 20- 25 diverse high school students as they pursue non-traditional post-secondary education such as two-year colleges, community colleges, technical colleges, and trade schools. The program provides these youth with integrated mentoring, tutoring, family coaching, resources, mental health care and college counseling, as well as a stipend for more basic needs like application fees, food, interview attire, and transportation.

Milwaukee, WI

The mission of City Forward Collective is to secure Milwaukee's future by ending educational inequity and ensuring every child has the opportunity to attend a high-quality school.

The grant will fund an investment into an Opportunity Accelerator Learning Cohort, which will support 10 Milwaukee schools to ensure their students have equitable access to quality education. Specifically, four key resources are analyzed and coached that research shows are critical to successful outcomes: grade-appropriate assignments; strong classroom instruction; deep engagement in learning opportunities; and teachers with high expectations. The program is characterized by data driven research and hands-on, in the classroom analysis and feedback, and is supported by the school leaders and teachers.

Seattle, WA

We enhance the academic abilities, self-confidence and life prospects of young learners in Seattle Public Schools.

The grant will help provide tutoring and mentorship to 3rd-5th grade students that are at-risk of falling behind or dropping out of school. Students are provided with targeted intervention with one-on-one diverse tutors, following their formula of one hour + one child + one day a week = a lifetime of dividends. This program is in partnership with Seattle Public Schools and has a focus on academic outcomes including test scores, teacher surveys and parent surveys.

Milwaukee, WI

Journey House empowers families living on Milwaukee's near Southside to move out of poverty by offering adult education, workforce readiness, youth development, and family engagement programs.

The grant will support a year-round, project-based learning THRIVE STEAM Forward Training Program for 150 youth. Students will receive multidisciplinary, hands­-on design experience through projects focused on visual arts, architecture and design, engineering (biomedical, mechanical, sound), computer science, construction, robotics and entrepreneurship.

Louisville, KY

Junior Achievement's mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. With interactive programs tailored to elementary, middle and high school students, Junior Achievement introduces young people throughout our community to the realities and possibilities of the working world and personal finance.

The grant will enable Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana to implement the 3DE high school reinvention model in four Louisville, Kentucky schools. 3DE is an innovative model proven to accelerate student engagement and academic outcomes in traditional public high schools. Students will be provided with four years of education including integrated learning through dynamic Case Challenges, collaboration with peers in teams, and access to industries to gain exposure and build skills.

Milwaukee, WI

The purpose of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The mission is that Junior Achievement will ensure that every child in Wisconsin has an opportunity to obtain an understanding of the free enterprise system.

The grant will help provide over 2,000 historically underserved 5th-12th grade students with the opportunity to participate in the JA Capstone Career Exploration Project. This will increase access to JA programs that are considered capstone experiences (BizTown, Finance Park) with unique hands-on curricula that teaches students about the world of business & money.