Blog: December 2012
Partner with UrbanPromise and the Camden community for our upcoming Martin Luther King Day of Service!
Last year over 300 children, teens, and adults from the South Jersey area participated in our 2012 MLK Day of Service. We’re hoping for an even greater turnout on Monday, January 21 and to engage in a wider variety of projects—a Camden park cleanup, an art project for the community of Newtown, CT, and several collections for local residents.
But we need your help to pull it off!
Consider joining us on January 21 and/or sponsoring our service projects by donating the following:
Art Supplies - To create “art of hope” for the community of Newtown, CT and children in local shelters and hospitals:
- 150 sheets of 11x17 copy paper
- 2 rolls of contact paper
- Candy molds
- Construction paper
- Markers, crayons, glue
- Cellophane
- 10 boxes of colored pencils
- 25 pieces of poster board
- 5 rolls of duct tape
- (25) 18x24 stretched canvases
- 130 plain colored t-shirts
- 65 small condiment containers
- 20 loaves of bread
- 4 cases of apples
- 5 containers of hot chocolate
- 2 boxes of tea bags
"How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (Luke 1:18)
Starting in September, Cortney made a major life change. With a Ph.D. from North Carolina A&T State University and years of experience as an engineer, she left her high-paying, secure job and began teaching at UrbanPromise. Since her first day, she’s infused her classroom with an enthusiasm for science and her vibrant faith. She also started the school’s robotics team—something our youth have never experienced before. Cortney’s passion is so infectious that students now want to spend their weekends building robots and learning mechanical functions. I see new life in their eyes.
Cortney came to UrbanPromise because God touched her heart; she felt called to educate and inspire urban youth. She said yes to God.
According to the Gospel of Luke, the Christmas story actually began with the angel Gabriel's promise to Elizabeth and Zachariah, a couple well beyond childbearing years. The two had never been able to have children—and didn’t think it possible at their elderly age.
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For more information about the robotics team wish list please contact Dr. Cortney Bolden, UrbanPromise Academy comprehensive science teacher, at (856) 382-1230 or cbolden@urbanpromiseusa.org.
A big THANK YOU to Association Headquarters for hosting an awesome Christmas party at their office for UrbanPromise's Camp Freedom AfterSchool Program. We are blessed by your partnership!
UrbanPromise is excited to share that we've received a $1,000 grant from the Dermody Properties Foundation for our Emergency Family Fund! This award will help us provide financial assistance to families in need, particularly around this holiday season. Learn more about donating to our youth and families and the giving efforts of Dermody Properties.
Thank you, Dermody Properties!
Last year, 44 students—around one fourth of our student population—nearly withdrew from UrbanPromise schools because they were unable to pay tuition. Behind each of those 44 instances was a child whose family was experiencing some kind of financial crisis—due to a lost job, a father who had died, a grandmother who could no longer help with the bills, or a parent who relapsed.