Primrose Schools® and Save the Children® Partner for America's Children

Primrose Kicks Off National Partnership with $145,000 Donation

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Sep 08, 2014, 09:46 ET

ACWORTH, Ga., Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Primrose Schools, an early education and care provider with schools across the United States, has officially partnered with Save the Children on a multi-year initiative that will focus on early literacy, child sponsorship and protection from harm for at-risk children in America.

Pictured R to L, Primrose Schools President and CEO Jo Kirchner presents Lysa Ratliff, senior director of resource development for Save the Children, with a $145,000 donation to officially launch the national partnership. (PRNewsFoto/Primrose Schools)

Executives at both organizations have been developing the partnership for nearly a year, incorporating opportunities to actively involve more than 285 Primrose schools and 60,000 Primrose families coast-to-coast. Save the Children will be a primary charitable partner for Primrose Schools as part of the company's Primrose Promise^sm corporate social responsibility efforts, which include partnerships with other organizations to advocate for all children, especially those at the greatest risk.

"This partnership and the initiatives we're embarking on with Save the Children provide us with meaningful ways to teach our students essential character development lessons and engage our entire community in a common cause that supports our mission to forge a path to a brighter future for all children," said Primrose Schools president and CEO Jo Kirchner. "One in four American children lives in poverty today. Together, we can help ensure that children in the greatest need of our help have the best chance for success."

Through early learning programs, child sponsorship, and emergency preparedness and response initiatives, Save the Children strives to ensure that the most underserved children in America are ready to learn by the time they begin school, thrive academically and developmentally, and are safe and protected when disaster strikes.

"There is a great synergy in the philosophies and focus between our two organizations; and, we are very excited about the potential our partnership holds for America's most vulnerable children," said Carolyn Miles, CEO and president of Save the Children. "Nearly a quarter of our nation's children know all too well what it means to go without. They don't have access to basic things many of us take for granted, such as books and a quality early education, and they often live in communities that face the highest risks during natural disasters."

Primrose officially launched the national partnership with an initial $145,000 donation to Save the Children, which came from Primrose schools and families who support Primrose Promise through local fundraising efforts throughout the year. Each year, Primrose schools donate half of the money they raise to Primrose Promise and the Primrose Children's Foundation, which goes to support initiatives and partnerships like Save the Children, and they use the other half of the funds raised to support charities and organizations of choice in their communities.

About Save the Children
Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood-- every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Primrose Schools^®Founded in 1982, Primrose Schools is the nation's leader in providing a premier, early education and care experience in more than 287 schools in 23 states. Each Primrose school is independently owned and operated by our Franchise Owners, who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life, and offer an environment that helps children have fun while nurturing Active Minds, Healthy Bodies and Happy Hearts^®. Primrose is the first early childhood education organization in the country to receive AdvancED Corporation Systems Accreditation under the new Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, follow us on Facebook Twitter, YouTube or read our 360 Parenting blog.

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