Four community leaders will be recognized this week by
the Center for
Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins for their
contributions to Baltimore's summer learning programs. The
event, a gala dinner and silent auction, will begin at 6:30
p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4, in the Glass Pavilion on the
Homewood campus.
The honorees are teacher Pablo Koropecky, Mayor Martin
O'Malley, Enoch Pratt Free Library head Carla Hayden and
JCPenney's Edward Solczak. The featured speaker is Marian
Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund.
Pablo Koropecky, an alumnus of the Center for Summer
Learning's Teach Baltimore program and of Johns Hopkins,
will receive the Founder's Award for distinguished service
in the field of education. Koropecky completed a master's
program in education through the center and now teaches at
Barclay Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City.
Mayor O'Malley will receive the Summer Mathematics
Award for leading Baltimore's Summer Learning Campaign, a
citywide effort to prevent summer learning loss. The
Mayor's Math Challenge, an important part of the campaign,
helped keep students engaged in math problems throughout
the summer.
Carla Hayden, executive director of the Enoch Pratt
Free Library and immediate past president of the American
Library Association, will receive the Summer Reading Award
for her work in promoting summer reading in Baltimore and
across the country.
Edward Solczak, director of JCPenney Afterschool, will
receive the Corporate Leadership Award for the retailer's
support of after-school initiatives, some of which have
Baltimore locations. JCPenney Afterschool provides
financial support to five of the country's leading
after-school and summer programs: Boys & Girls Clubs of
America, Afterschool Alliance, YMCA of the USA, 4-H and
Junior Achievement. Through these relationships, JCPenney
Afterschool provides annual contributions that enhance
curricula, upgrade facilities, train staff and volunteers,
provide transportation and sponsor programs that will
positively impact children's chances for success.
Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the
Children's Defense Fund and recipient of the Albert
Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, will be honored for her
leadership and distinguished record of service to children
and families.
The Center for Summer Learning develops, evaluates and
disseminates model summer learning programs, stimulates
research and builds public support for summer learning.
Since 1992, the center has provided summer learning
programs to more than 3,000 students in the Baltimore City
public school system.
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