LEAP for Education and Salem Academy Charter School Each Receives $100k Grant.

SALEM, MA —LEAP for Education, Inc., and Salem Academy Charter School are two of the 100 Boston area nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through the Cummings Foundation “$100k for 100” program. Both Salem-based organizations were chosen from a total of 472 applicants during a competitive review process.

Salem Academy Charter School is a free public school ranked by the Department of Education as a Level One School offering a college preparatory curriculum for students in grades six through twelve. Admission to the school is non-selective subject only to a lottery drawing for the number of spaces available. Salem Academy welcomes students regardless of academic performance or language proficiency, and the school will use the Cummings Foundation grant to support its Tutoring Intervention Program, an effort to identify and support students who are at risk of academic failure.

Sean O’Neil, Executive Director said, “This grant addresses a core element of our mission, to ensure that every student can find success regardless of background, disability, or natural talent.”

LEAP for Education is a non-profit organization providing free academic enrichment and college access and advising services to over 400 low-income and first generation North Shore youth in grades 6 through college. The Cummings Foundation grant will be used in its College Ready program designed to guide students through high school to a college and career that matches their strengths and interests.

“We are very honored to receive this grant and thankful for the Cummings family and the Foundation Trustees for putting its faith in our vision to empower students to identify and pursue their career aspirations with a post-secondary credential. With these funds, we will be able to enhance programming and serve more students in Salem and surrounding communities,” said Linda Saris, Executive Director of LEAP for Education.

“The Cummings Foundation recognizes the successful track records of both Salem Academy Charter School and LEAP for Education in educating the youth of Salem and other communities where our clients and colleagues live and work. We are delighted to support their efforts,” said Joel Swets, Cumming Foundation’s Executive Director.

LEAP for Education, at 35 Congress Street in Salem, has a mission to help low income and first generation students succeed in middle school, high school and college. LEAP operates its two flagship programs, the Academic Learning Center and College Success. The Academic Learning Center provides comprehensive academic support and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and Arts enrichment to middle and high school students. The College Success Program offers high quality advisory and education services to high school and college students in Salem and Peabody so they successfully graduate from high school and post-secondary schools. LEAP is an acronym for Learn, Explore, Aspire and Pursue.

Salem Academy Charter School is a small, public charter school serving the diverse student population of Salem and the surrounding communities with grades six through twelve. Through a unique integration of college preparatory classes with service to the community, Salem Academy’s mission is to graduate informed, articulate, and proactive individuals of strong character.

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester. With assets exceeding $1 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $140 million to local nonprofits alone.