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SFSU Public Affairs Press Release

Published by the Public Affairs Office at San Francisco State University, Diag Center.

#43
Contact: Ted DeAdwyler
phone: (415) 338-1665
e-mail: pubcom@sfsu.edu

San Francisco State University president appointed to national board of Jumpstart

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2000 --- San Francisco State University President Robert A. Corrigan has been appointed to the national board of directors of the Jumpstart program, a successful nationwide effort aimed at helping at-risk preschool children prepare for elementary school.

"As Jumpstart prepares to dramatically increase the number and size of our university partnerships, President Corrigan's active involvement will be crucial in rallying other university presidents to launch Jumpstart programs," said Aaron Lieberman, president and chief executive officer of Jumpstart, which is based in Boston. "We have already felt a tremendous positive impact from President Corrigan's involvement and assistance connecting Jumpstart to numerous higher education associations and university presidents. Best of all, President Corrigan has led by example, committing all of San Francisco State University's federal work study increases to tutoring efforts."

Corrigan joins a distinguished board that includes George Kolber, CEO of American Eagle Outfitters; Judith Kidd, associate dean for public service at Harvard University; and Gary Syman, retired managing director of Goldman Sachs in San Francisco.

Corrigan, a national leader in promoting university-community partnerships, chairs the steering committee of college and university presidents for both the "America Reads" and "America Counts" initiatives. President Clinton personally requested Corrigan chair the steering committee.

At S.F. State --- which became Jumpstart's first university affiliate in the fall of 1997 --- more than 50 college students are working on building the literacy and learning skills of three-to-five-year-olds in five neighborhoods in San Francisco: Bayview-Hunter's Point, the Mission, the Marina, the Richmond District and the South of Market area. The Jumpstart students work with children and their families over one school year (with an option of a summer session) to ready the youngsters for school. The college students, many of whom plan to go into teaching, receive an educational award of $2,400 through AmeriCorps. The awards can be used to repay educational loans or future tuition expenses.

In addition to San Francisco, Jumpstart currently operates in 10 cities across the country, including Los Angeles and New York City. More than 500 college students nationwide work with nearly 1,500 children and their families. Jumpstart plans to grow to 50 sites by the year 2005, expanding its reach to help 16,000 children.

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Note to editors: Amy Skonieczny lives in north Oakland and can be reached at (510) 594-7625. She leaves the Bay Area August 4 to begin her studies at the University of Minnesota. A scanned photo of Amy is available. For details, call Ted DeAdwyler of the S.F. State Public Affairs office at (415) 338-7110.



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Last modified April 24, 2007, by Office of Public Affairs