FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Keziah Moss, Director of Community & Employee Engagement, (510) 667-6202, kmoss@slusd.us

December 5, 2018

Last Thursday, San Leandro High and Bancroft Middle Schools were awarded financial grants towards their sports and music programs. World Champion Brandon Crawford and Jim Foley, EVP, and president of Wells Fargo’s Pacific North region presented checks to recipients of the KNBR Step Up to the Plate for Education grants program funded by Wells Fargo at AT&T Park. Through an open nomination process, schools applied to receive grants and winners were selected. Thirty-one Bay Area schools received $100,000 in grants to support their sports, musical, art and education programs.

SLHS teacher Jan Othen was surprised to receive the award, having applied for the grant back in June. “I love the Giants and I am always looking for a way to support our kids,” said Othen, “It was really great to meet Brandon and his wife, especially knowing they are locals and do so much for the community.”  Othen plans to use the money to purchase new golf clubs and bags for the SLHS boys and girls golf teams. Bancroft Middle School principal Valentin Del Rio said his grant will be put towards the music programs at his school.

“Wells Fargo is proud to support educational and athletic programs that will play a role in preparing our youth to be successful adults,” said Jim Foley. “When students and communities prosper, we all benefit.”

Professional baseball player Brandon Crawford spoke to the grant winners about the power of education: “As a kid, my parents always emphasized the importance of an education—above and beyond participating in sports. As a Bay Area native, it is an honor to be part of a program that increases education and athletic programs for local kids.”

Wells Fargo invests in communities where its team members and customers live and work and is a top corporate philanthropist in the greater Bay Area. Wells Fargo and KNBR have distributed over $1.1 million through the Step Up to the Plate program to support the Bay Area’s youth over the past fifteen years.

Read the latest exciting news happening in the San Leandro Unified School District at www.slusd.us.