Sweeney: Parma City School District receives $12,000 grant from Cox Communications
State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today announced Cox Communications is awarding Parma City School District a $12,000 Cox Charities Community grant. Cox Charities, the company’s charitable giving initiative, supports afterschool and summer learning programs focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning. A special ceremony, attended by Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek, Senator Nicki J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Sweeney, was held Friday at Cox’s corporate offices in Parma.
“I applaud Parma City Schools for stepping up to the challenge of providing a quality STEAM education, so that their students have the appropriate tools for their futures”, said Rep. Sweeney. “I want to also thank Cox Communications for this generous grant and their continuous efforts to give back to our community.”
Recipients were selected by a group of employees that are community advocates ensuring quality STEAM after-school and summer learning programs are available for Ohio’s youth.
“Expanding STEAM education opportunities, as the Parma City School District and Cox Communications have done, benefits students, their families and their communities,” said Sen. Antonio. “I fully support afterschool and summer learning programs and extend my heartfelt congratulations to the district upon receiving a $12,000 grant for the program.”
From creating clubs for computer coding and robotic Lego assembly to an outdoor exploration camp centered around the Cuyahoga River watershed, the STEAM programs designed by this year’s recipients are as far-reaching as they are groundbreaking.
“The investment that Cox Communications has made shows that they understand our commitment to and are continuing to help us be the best possible school district that we can be” said Superintendent Dr. Smialek.
Cox Charities Northeast, a charitable giving initiative of Cox Communications, is fully funded by business vendors and Cox employees. Since 2001, Cox has invested more than $6 million in Cox Charities grants and in-kind support throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and Ohio.
“STEAM programming offers students an incredible toolbox of assets and skills that will make them well-suited for the careers of the future,” said Rob Brill, Market Vice President of Cox Communications. “We are thrilled to once again support this organization in their mission and proud of the work our employees and partners have done to identify them in the 2019 Cox Charities Community Grants program.”
Cox Communication is the largest private telecom company in America, serving 6 million homes and businesses across 18 states.
Sweeney represents Ohio’s 14th House district, which includes Brooklyn, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, Parma Heights and large portions of Cleveland’s west side in Cuyahoga County.