MOODY FOUNDATION TO AWARD NEARLY $2M GRANT FOR 3K GISD COMPUTER DEVICES
Grant to bridge the digital divide for over 30% of GISD students and teachers during the pandemic
GALVESTON, Texas – July 16, 2020 – The Moody Foundation is awarding a nearly $2 million grant to Galveston Independent School District (GISD) for the purchase of more than 3,000 computer devices as part of its Generation Moody Education Initiative. The grant also includes two-year support for 1,200 WiFi hotspots.
Currently, over 30% of GISD students and teachers do not have a laptop at home or internet access. Those same students often have to rely on school and in-person resources to complete their homework. They don’t have the convenience of working from home like many of their peers.
“With the closure of schools and switch to remote learning, COVID-19 has further exposed some gaping and stark realities, one being educational inequities,” said Ross Moody, trustee of the Moody Foundation. “One of the goals for Generation Moody is to help every student achieve educational attainment by removing barriers to success.”
Accessibility to technology has never been more important as schools shift to a new normal of learning and teaching. Socioeconomic disparities in low-income communities have played a disproportionate role in who has more access to resources at home for a more effective learning environment.
“The Moody Foundation recognizes the digital divide extends beyond computers and laptops; it’s also about internet connectivity,” continued Moody. “To provide equitable solutions for all students, we have to level the playing field. This will not only improve their present academic performance but also their future impact to society.”
The Moody Foundation grant will help fulfill a critical and immediate need for GISD as it rolls out the technology in the upcoming school year.
“We are forever grateful to the Moody Foundation for its ongoing support of quality education throughout the community,” said GISD Superintendent Dr. Kelli Moulton. “Remote teaching and learning will be essential in 2020 and for years to come. This generous grant will essentially give every Galveston ISD student access to the internet and a device they can bring home to attend school online.”
“At the Moody Foundation, we believe education is crucial for the vitality of any community, especially important now during the pandemic,” said Angela Blair, education director of the Moody Foundation. “We’ve been working closely with GISD as they navigate through unprecedented challenges. It’s our hope that these resources will alleviate technological burdens when schools resume in the fall.”
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About the Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation was established by W.L. Moody, Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody in 1942 to share their good fortune and make a difference in the lives of the people of Texas. Since then, the Foundation has pledged and awarded more than $1.7 billion in grants throughout the state – with over $1.1 billion in Galveston giving – to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans. The Moody Foundation continues with a board of three trustees: Frances Moody-Dahlberg, Ross Moody and Elizabeth Moody. Learn more at MoodyF.org and follow the Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
About Galveston Independent School District
Galveston ISD is a public school district in Texas that serves more than 7,000 students. Its 12 Schools of Choice campuses consist of traditional and theme-based schools, charter schools, STEM programs, magnet schools, and a mega-magnet high school established in 1884. The district’s mission is to Educate, Engage and Empower EACH student for a life of Excellence. To learn more, visit www.gisd.org.
Media Contacts:
Kami Lee, Moody Foundation, [email protected]
Billy Rudolph, Galveston ISD, [email protected]