From left: Buffalo Deputy Mayor Dr. Ellen Grant, National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa, Buffalo Interim School Superintendent Tonja Williams, and Say Yes to Education Buffalo Executive Director David Rust pose for a picture at the July 11 summertime learning program kickoff event.

A National Grid Foundation grant in the amount of $20,000 is supporting Say Yes to Education Buffalo’s summertime learning initiative, which is focused on reducing learning loss among 1,400 City of Buffalo students in Kindergarten through Grade 6.

“National Grid and National Grid Foundation know the importance of investing in the education of Buffalo’s future workforce,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa.

His remarks were made on behalf of the foundation at a July 11 kickoff event, which was held at the Boys and Girls Club Masten Clubhouse in Buffalo.

“Such investments can keep students on track with their academics throughout the summer, and can translate to successes in the classroom come September,” Kujawa added. “National Grid and the foundation frequently invest in education and various STEM initiatives, because we know that doing so can result in building the workforce of the future.”

Say Yes to Education Buffalo’s initiatives will focus on subjects such as English Language Arts and Math at 27 locations across the city through Aug. 19. Camp activities are a mix of evidence-based literacy, math programming and physical activities. Students also will have access to primary medical care services, racial equity programming and the opportunity to enroll in Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s Summer Reading Challenge.

“National Grid Foundation has a long, proud history of supporting programs like Say Yes to Education,” said National Grid Foundation Executive Director Ed White. “And for nearly 25 years, our focus on education and the environment has helped many young people access STEM-related resources that propel them into careers that will play key roles in the clean energy transition.” 

The opportunity for National Grid Foundation or National Grid to support initiatives such as the Say Yes summertime learning initiative directly aligns with the neighborhood development and community engagement pillar of National Grid’s Project C initiative. 

Project C was designed to transcend convention and create a more equitable future for customers in communities that the company serves. Project C also aims to inspire positive change across New York State, from neighborhood beautification to workforce development, today and for generations to come.

Major funding for Say Yes programming came from Cullen Foundation, Erie County, Oshei Foundation, and the City of Buffalo. National Grid Foundation, Children’s Foundation of Erie County and Dollar General Literacy Foundation provided additional funding.

Mayor Brown thanked partners for creating a safe learning environment for children, adding, “As mayor of a city that’s making great progress and working to create a place of opportunity for all, we must do everything we can to make sure every child has a chance to learn and succeed.”

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