The OneAmerica Foundation, Inc. announces $500,000 for The Mind Trust
Gift is Foundation’s largest to support K-12 public education
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Oct. 3, 2011) –The OneAmerica Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce its largest contribution ever to support K-12 public education initiatives. The Foundation is making a $100,000 contribution to The Mind Trust in 2011 and will consider additional annual contributions of $100,000 in each of the next four years (2012 through 2015) for a total gift of $500,000. The OneAmerica Foundation is the charitable arm of OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc.
“Educational achievement is probably the single most important factor facing our society today,” said Dayton Molendorp, chairman and president of the OneAmerica Foundation as well as chairman, president and CEO of the OneAmerica companies. “When student achievement falls short, our pool of workforce-ready young people diminishes. That hurts our ability to be competitive, and ultimately, our communities and our economy suffer.”
The gift supports The Mind Trust’s “Grow What Works” campaign, an effort to raise $18 million to scale the success of six organizations that have achieved dramatic results in and out of the classroom. The campaign also invests in innovative initiatives that encourage entrepreneurial approaches to education. To date, more than $10 million has been raised.
“We have seen many well-intentioned people and organizations introduce programs and provide funding to try to improve our education system in recent years, but the results have not followed,” added Molendorp. “Our city, region and state have reached the point that education reform is absolutely critical. Thanks to The Mind Trust, we can build on the things that work, so that every young person in our schools has the opportunity to be successful and contribute to society.”
Though it is funded solely by OneAmerica Companies, The OneAmerica Foundation, Inc. is a separate legal entity from OneAmerica with its own Board of Directors. The Foundation’s goal is to support the initiatives that have the greatest impact on improving the livability of the communities in which OneAmerica has a significant presence, and to help create a climate of growth and vibrancy that enriches people’s lives and provides them with greater opportunities.
“We are honored to receive such an historic gift from The OneAmerica Foundation,” said The Mind Trust Founder and CEO, David Harris. “It is not only a vote of confidence in The Mind Trust and our approach to public education reform, but such a commitment also demonstrates how public education is a critical component of our city’s ultimate success.”
For more information on The Mind Trust or its Grow What Works campaign, visit www.TheMindTrust.org or www.GrowWhatWorks.org or call 317.822.8102.
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The Mind Trust – bold, new education reform
The Mind Trust is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to dramatically improve public education for underserved children by empowering education entrepreneurs to develop or expand transformative education initiatives. Through its Education Entrepreneur Fellowship and Mezzanine Fund, The Mind Trust finds the most promising and successful education reform initiatives in America, and supports their launch or replication in Indianapolis. The Mind Trust has made investments totaling over $5,000,000 to bring Teach For America, The New Teacher Project, College Summit, Diploma Plus and Stand for Children to Indianapolis. The Mind Trust has invested $2.7 million to incubate six new ventures, including Summer Advantage USA, Teach Plus, Seton Education Partners, Foster Ed, Global Citizen Year, and Youth Music Exchange. www.themindtrust.org.
