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United Way of Erie County and Erie’s Public Schools officials will announce the corporate partner for JoAnna Connell Elementary at a press conference on Thursday, November 15 at 10:00 AM.

At United Way, we know education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in our community. That is why in 2016, United Way shifted its focus to education and launched the community school model in our community. To date, there are 16 community schools throughout four districts in Erie County. Community schools bring a wide range of resources into schools to support students and their families.

Corporate partners are essential to the success of United Way's community school initiative in Erie County. The Corporate Partner commits to financial support for a minimum three-year cycle. They may designate a champion to serve as liaison to the Community School, including engaging with the Community School Director to identify and oversee other employees as volunteers.

The community schools model is a strategy (not a program) for organizing school and community resources around student success. A community school is both a place and set of partnerships that help address health, wellness and the social needs of its students, families and the surrounding neighborhood.

After the success of the first five community schools in the City of Erie, Erie’s Public Schools made a commitment to expand the model throughout the school district. That commitment was realized in June of 2022 when it was announced that Jefferson, Grover Cleveland and JoAnna Connell schools would become community schools.

United Way, as the backbone organization for the model has worked over the last several months to secure a corporate partner at JoAnna Connell. The company will be named at the press conference.