Director, Community Relations
748-1433
Oct. 8, 2009
For immediate release
DuPont to present grants to Bellwood Elementary on Oct. 13
DuPont will present two grants to Communities In Schools at Bellwood Elementary at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 13. Bellwood Elementary is located at 9536 Dawnshire Road.
DuPont (Spruance Plant) is awarding Bellwood Elementary $2,000 so that each prekindergarten student may receive nonfiction science reading materials and manipulatives to reinforce classroom activities. The grant supports the students in school-readiness activities, encourages family involvement with reading, supports DuPont employees volunteering to read to students and encourages Spanish-speaking parents to read books written in Spanish to their children. (Research indicates that reading to children in their native language improves their English development as well.) The books provided to the students will be high-interest, nonfiction science and environmental materials.
DuPont (James River) is awarding an additional $1,000 to support Bellwood’s Lunch Date With the Future program. The program teaches etiquette to fifth-grade students through weekly luncheons in their classroom with invited guests. The final luncheon is at Salisbury Country Club with all fifth-grade students and invited guests from throughout the year.
Located five miles from the Spruance plant, Bellwood Elementary is part of the DuPont community. According to DuPont spokesperson Lisa Randall, “Reaching children at this very vulnerable age and supporting their families in educational activities boost the entire community.” This spring, DuPont volunteers brought Junior Achievement to all third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students in the Bellwood/YMCA after-school program. Students met with DuPont volunteers in six one-hour sessions.
Bellwood Elementary is a site for Communities In Schools of Chesterfield, which has the longtime support of DuPont. Attending the Oct. 13 presentation will be DuPont Spruance Plant Manager Joe Internicola, DuPont Spruance Community Relations Manager Lisa Randall, DuPont James River Plant Manager Fran Montemurro, Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Marcus Newsome and faculty and staff members.
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