NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
4 October 2004

REYNOLDS CONSTRUCTION CO. TO DONATE $100,000 TO HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Richard Reynolds, Chief Executive Office of Reynolds Construction Co. and Reynolds Construction Management, Inc., today announced a $100,000 donation to the Harrisburg School District.

The monies will go toward the district’s Early Childhood Program, started two years ago, through which 3 and 4 year olds are nurtured in a learning environment at school. The program has clearly demonstrated itself to significantly help in preparing youngsters for not only the first grade but for a lifetime of learning and success.

“We know from every available research that the first seven years of a child’s life are the most formative. It is when attitudes and habits are learned that children carry with them for the rest of their lives. This is therefore the critical time for every child to develop positive, healthy views about themselves, their potential and their lives, as well as to learn basic learning skills and knowledge,” Reed said. “This is precisely why we started the Early Childhood initiative.”

The Mayor noted the program, when started two school years ago, began with 180 students and today has grown to 510. The district’s goal is to make it citywide for all 3 and 4 year olds in Harrisburg.

The corporate donation will utilize Education Tax Credits under a program started by state government several years ago.

Reynolds said: “The Harrisburg School District’s Early Childhood Program is already showing major success and we are delighted to partner with the District in expanding the program. This is the largest charitable donation we have ever given and consider it an important investment in the future of our city and its future workforce.”

Dr. Gerald Kohn, superintendent, said the Reynolds contribution sends a strong message of expanding corporate support for true educational reform and improvement—and serves as a model for other companies to follow.

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