Wells Fargo and The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc. help local schools

The Long Island Children’s Museum recently received a total of $17,500 from grants from Wells Fargo and The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc. to support the Museum’s enrichment program for high need school districts on Long Island called KICKstart.

KICKstart (Kids Ideas Create Knowledge) is a groundbreaking learning initiative, launched in 2002, to bring the Museum’s programming to children and families in high-need school district. Now in its tenth year, the program has enhanced education, strengthened community relations and resulted in more than 50,000 visits from Head Start, second and third grade students. Schools are selected based on academic need and have a significantly higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch programs as well as higher limited English proficiency populations as compared to the state average. In 2011 – 2012, LICM is partnering with the Hempstead School District and expects more than 5,000 students and their family members to participate. The funds from The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc. will support these visits as well as Museum memberships for each child’s family.

The grant from Wells Fargo will underwrite four “Family Nights” in the Hempstead School District. Family Nights involve students and their families in an interactive, literacy project based on the nationally recognized literacy program, “Image Making in the Written Process.” This program encourages children to weave visual imagery and the written word together as they become published authors and illustrators. Studies have shown that the use of this method promotes use of descriptive language, enables the formation of more developed story plots and serves to extend a child’s imagination.

“KICKstart has become a sustaining presence for high-need school districts as it provides students with valuable interactive learning opportunities. We are excited to add Wells Fargo and The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc. to the list of supporters addressing the needs of Long Island school children” comments Suzanne LeBlanc, LICM President. “Having their vote of confidence is important to the growth of this innovative program.”

Daniel S. Komansky, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc. commented “We are thrilled to award this grant to the KICKstart program. The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation’s support of the Long Island Children’s Museum helps fulfill Mr. and Mrs. Silvian’s wish that all children have a meaningful opportunity to learn.”

Long Island Children’s Museum is a learning laboratory where hands-on exhibits invite visitors to experiment, examine and play. Through lively interdisciplinary activities, children and adults can share in the excitement of the learning process as they explore the world in which we live. The museum is designed for infants through 12 and their grownups. LICM is a not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.