Harlem Children's Zone Gets $20 Million Gift

Sharon Otterman:

Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone is having a good month.

Already one of the best known charter school operators in the nation, his schools and community service projects are about to move even more to center stage with the release next week of a documentary about the need for change in American education, "Waiting for Superman," that highlights his efforts. (An Oprah appearance also is planned.)

From Washington, President Obama and the federal education department will soon announce 20 $500,000 start-up grants to communities around the country to replicate the best-practices of Mr. Canada's approach. Called Promise Neighborhoods, their goal is to create integrated networks of educational and social services for adults and children.

And the Harlem Children's Zone -- which raised about $50 million last year -- just received a $20 million contribution from Goldman Sachs Gives, a fund supported by the investment company and its partners, to build a new school building in a public housing project in Harlem, the organization announced on Thursday.

Goldman Sachs and its employees live today because of the massive taxpayer Wall Street bailout.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 18, 2010 3:33 AM
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