TwinWest Foundation Announces New Early Childhood Education Partnership with the Meadowbrook Collaborative

TwinWest Foundation Announces New Early Childhood Education Partnership with the Meadowbrook Collaborative

Thanks to the generosity of the business community in the western Twin Cities area, The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Foundation will fund a new and dynamic early learning program in St. Louis Park’s Meadowbrook community that aims to diminish the achievement gap and prepare young learners for success in kindergarten. This three-year pilot program, called  ‘Kids at Work,’ will work to provide a much needed pre-kindergarten curriculum for young students with little or no access to educational programming.

“The TwinWest Chamber Foundation has been looking to expand its philanthropic efforts into early childhood education for almost two years.  This partnership with the Meadowbrook Collaborative will offer our Foundation and our community a fantastic return on investment,” said Charlie Jacobson of Liberty Diversified International, Chair of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board of Directors. Economists from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve have estimated that investment in early learning for disadvantaged youths can yield up to a 16 percent return after adjustment for inflation. “This is truly a win-win for these kids and our whole community,” Jacobson added.

Early learning advocacy is nothing new for the Meadowbrook Collaborative.  Linda Trummer, Outreach Coordinator has worked with the St. Louis Park School District to provide a similar program during the summer months for the past several years.  “We’ve been looking to expand our early learning curriculum for some time.  Thanks to the TwinWest Foundation we finally have the resources to make a greater and more lasting impact for these deserving kids and their families,” Trummer said.

The TwinWest Foundation hosted a small gathering for sponsors and community stakeholders on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 4072 Meadowbrook Lane in St. Louis Park to kick-off the ‘Kids at Work’ program. 

The Meadowbrook Collaborative was established in 1993 to address quality of life issues in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of St. Louis Park.  Today, Meadowbrook’s programming services in the areas of health, safety and education to the neighborhoods 1,200 residents.  This programming includes academic support for students of all ages, service learning, crime prevention activities, mentoring and leadership skills.  Activities promote family stability and prepare youth to take a leadership role in an effort to create systemic change in the Meadowbrook neighborhood and beyond.

The TwinWest Foundation is the oldest, and one of the most active, chamber of commerce philanthropic institutions in the state of Minnesota. Since its inception in 1982, the TwinWest Foundation has raised and awaredd more than $1,000,000 to individuals and community projects in the region. For more information, please visit www.twinwest.com.