NEW ORLEANS – Two hundred HandsOn volunteers will be at Einstein Charter School, 5316 Michoud Blvd., in New Orleans, today, from 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., to help with landscaping, painting and fence weaving.
HandsOn New Orleans and NOLA Tree Group will be providing almost an half of million dollars in aesthetic improvements.
Einstein Charter Schools organizers said when Einstein Charter Schools took over the Sarah Towles Reed building in New Orleans East leadership knew it would be a huge undertaking. What was once a struggling school that was shut down is now thriving as Einstein Charter Middle housing over 300 students. In the fall of 2016 Einstein Charter High will open, at the same location, welcoming the future class of 2020.
Einstein Charter High will feature an innovative College and Career Preparatory program. Career Programs like culinary arts, pre-pharmacy, engineering, etc. will prepare students for life after high school if they elect not to pursue a college program, Einstein Charter Schools reps said.
In addition to providing strong academic and student services, they said leadership knew that improvements to the outdated building were needed. In stepped HandsOn New Orleans.
HandsOn New Orleans is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage, empower and transform the New Orleans community through volunteer service. HandsOn hosts citizens from around the world for volunteer service opportunities. Since April 2014 HandsOn has coordinated more than 3,000 volunteers for 10,105 hours of service at Sarah Towles Reed. Through support of their corporate partners, HandsOn has provided an economic impact valued at $445,957 to Einstein Charter Schools. The organization has also partnered with the NOLA Tree Project on landscaping projects for the school.
“We value our partnership with HandsOn and NOLA Tree Project,” said Shawn Toranto, CEO of Einstein Charter Schools. “Einstein and HandsOn realize the conditions and aesthetics of the school facility directly equates to the respect we have for our students, family and community. We are grateful for all of the work Hands On and their volunteer groups are doing, and look forward to all of our future projects.”
Executive Director Chris Cameron has been leading HandsOn for three years. Prior to joining the organization he spent 20 years in higher education at Loyola University of New Orleans and Dillard University.
“We invested in Einstein Charter Schools and New Orleans East because it is still one of the most neglected areas post-Katrina,” said Cameron. “With the level of commitment on education I’ve seen from teachers and staff at Einstein it was our desire to come in and help with one piece of the puzzle. If HandsOn can bring in corporate dollars to help with the aesthetics of the building that allows Einstein the ability to invest their limited funding where it really matters – the kids.”
HandsOn has eight more volunteer groups signed on for visits this year, including today’s group of 200. Salesforce is hosting the service project as part of an annual conference. Volunteers will be landscaping, painting and designing fence weaving today.
“Our children will not only be able to learn in a welcoming atmosphere they now also can harvest from our new citrus trees and vegetable garden,” Toranto said. “We are exposing our students to new opportunities because of this partnership.”
