Cedar Valley’s Leader in Me receives major commitment from John Deere Foundation
WATERLOO, December 25, 2015—
Leader Valley plans to expand its cornerstone Leader in Me® initiative, thanks to a $558,000 grant from the John Deere Foundation. The grant, to be paid over two years, will support the advancement of Leader in Me® in elementary, middle, and high schools with a projected impact of 4,995 students and 689 educators in 13 schools.
“The John Deere Foundation invests in projects that provide inspiring, rewarding, and innovative educational experiences for both youth and adults, particularly in our home communities,” says Mara Sovey Downing, Director, Global Brand Management and Corporate Citizenship. “This initiative emphasizes the development of the essential employability skills while helping students acquire the knowledge needed for future career and academic success,” she added.
Leader in Me is implemented by Leader Valley, with the goal of developing a strong workforce and strengthening business and education collaboration. The Leader in Me initiative aims to expand the reach of leadership and 21st Century soft skill development opportunities to all students in the Cedar Valley. Nineteen Cedar Valley schools are already implementing Leader in Me in their buildings, with a goal of 34 schools by 2020.
For more information on Leader in Me and Leader Valley, contact Melissa Reade, Leader Valley Program Director, at 319-232-1156 or by visiting www.leadervalley.org.
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