Local Partners Come Together and Invest $10,000 to Provide San Pablo Youth with a Summer Experience

SAN PABLO, Calif., Aug. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, over 40 students from Bayview Elementary School embarked on a journey that focuses on building literacy capacities as a gateway to economic opportunities.

Founded in the summer of 2016 through a partnership with the City of San Pablo, West Contra Costa Unified School District, and Bay Area Community Resources, Camp PRIDE began as a pilot summer literacy program for 56 first graders from Dover and Lake Elementary Schools.

"There is a direct correlation between a child's long-term financial future and their ability to read," said Teodora Ildefonzo-Olmo, Community Services Coordinator, City of San Pablo. "Through Camp PRIDE, we work to ensure that San Pablo's children are equipped with tools for upward mobility by focusing on the most critical skill required to succeed--reading."

For the 40 Bayview students, the partnership is extra special because the manner by which participation was financed speaks to the power of community in San Pablo.

When it was determined that $10,000 were needed to realize this summer's Camp PRIDE experience, the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation sprang into action, and applied for grant support.

The result of their efforts was an $8,000 Summer Literacy Grant from Richmond Community Foundation, $2,000 from San Pablo Adopt-a-Family Committee, and $2,000 from San Pablo Rotary.

"It fills me with joy that we live and work in a community that believes in the power of coming together to support others," said Leslay Choy, Executive Director, San Pablo Economic Development Corporation. "On behalf of the community, I want to thank our partners for their investment. Because of them, the dream of continued upward mobility for a new generation of San Pablo residents is closer to reality."

About San Pablo Economic Development Corporation: The role of San Pablo EDC is to stabilize, diversify and develop the local economy through education and training of business and workforce. San Pablo EDC is working to strengthen the City's local economy and provide quality jobs to local workers. At the same time, San Pablo EDC helps create dynamic partnerships and programs to train the local workforce and prepare them for jobs in industries that are stable or growing in the local region. For more information, visit www.sanpabloedc.org.

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SOURCE San Pablo Economic Development Corporation