Dear Business Council Members and Friends,
As you may be aware, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), on behalf of the people of the U.A.E., recently made a generous donation of $500,000 dollars to the Joplin, Missouri public school system in an effort to aid the community’s recovery from the devastation caused on May 22nd by a severe tornado. The storm, one of the largest tornados ever recorded in the U.S., took the lives of more than 150 Joplin residents and leveled large portions of the community— including the town’s only public high school.
The Embassy grant is supporting Joplin Public Schools’ “One-to-One” Initiative, which will provide all 2,200 Joplin High School students with a personal laptop computer to use to continue their education while the community rebuilds the school. In addition to the initial $500,000 donation, the Embassy has issued a challenge grant, and agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, additional funds donated to the One-to-One Initiative up to $500,000, bringing the total potential UAE Embassy grant to $1 million.
The One-to-One Initiative aims to help Joplin Public Schools:
• Start the school year on time and provide an uninterrupted academic year;
• Successfully deliver a standardized curriculum to all high school students regardless of where they are housed;
• Create an engaging learning environment for its students; and
• Prepare the students with the technological skills that they will need upon graduation when entering higher education, the work force, or the armed services.
When presenting the donation to Joplin officials last week, representatives from the U.A.E. Embassy reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to supporting the education of the world’s youth, a pillar of the late Founder and President of the U.A.E., His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s vision for the development of his country and the success of the global community.
As members of the U.S.-U.A.E. business community and in the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, it is important to view this as an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate and support the Joplin School system’s “One-to-One” Initiative.
U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council member companies and associates interested in contributing toward the U.A.E.’s donation-matching challenge should contact Melanie Dolloff at Joplin Public Schools. Her phone number is +1 (417) 540-6355.
Additionally, Ms. Dana Almarashi, Head of the UAE Embassy’s Heritage and Social Affairs Office is also available to facilitate companies’ outreach to Joplin Public Schools and can provide background information. Her phone number is +1 (202) 243-2418 and her e-mail address is DAlmarashi@uaeembassy-usa.org .
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About the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is a progressive business advocacy organization solely committed to advancing the trade and commercial relationship between the United States and United Arab Emirates.
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