The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation announced a $25,000 grant to Every Monday Matters (EMM) to help grow their after-school curriculum in school districts throughout the Bay Area. EMM’s Education Program provides a platform for schools to help inspire and mobilize students to create positive change and help them understand how much and why they matter- to themselves, their community, and the world.
The Education Program thrives as a social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum taught by more than 4,000 educators, reaching 1.5 million students grades K-12 in 49 states and 6 countries. The EMM K-12 curriculum is a flexible and powerful tool for engaging youth in topics and activities that build their self and social responsibility. Through hands-on SEL activities, students are taught actionable steps on how to be confident, empathetic, and impactful in positive ways.
With the C.A.R.E.S. Foundation grant, EMM will be working with schools and expanded learning programs like the YMCA of the East Bay and Region IV youth programs in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Solano counties. EMM will also be working with staff in youth programs like the City of San Jose’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Soledad Unified School District in Region V that include Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.
“Today’s youth experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and violence. With the C.A.R.E.S. Foundation’s generous and ongoing support, we will be able to work with Bay Area schools and expanded learning programs to address those needs and help thousands of youth and families value themselves, care for others, and positively engage in our communities. Every Monday Matters is proud to partner with the foundation to help our youth and communities understand how much and why they matter,” expressed Jocelyn Guansing, Director of Education, Every Monday Matters.
To further celebrate the partnership, Lucky California will sponsor a special “You Matter Day, presented by Lucky California” on the International Day of Happiness, March 20. Participating EMM schools in the Bay Area will host You Matter workshops, encouraging students to write positive messages to their peers.
The Save Mart Companies’ C.A.R.E.S. Foundation donated over $450,000 in 2019 to over five dozen local organizations throughout California and Northern Nevada. C.A.R.E.S. stands for Community, Arts, Recreation, Education and Sports and focuses on improving lives under these categories. For more information, please visit www.SaveMart.com, under the Community tab.