Clark partners with Fuller Foundation to support after-school programs

Clark University has announced a gift of $100,000 from the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation of Worcester to fund after-school programs and field trips for students at the University Park Campus School (UPCS) over the next two years, beginning in September 2022.

The grant will provide UPCS students opportunities to explore extracurricular interests and activities, build skills and relationships, improve their academic performance through specialized classes and homework assistance, and enjoy new sports and recreational offerings, including e-sports and gaming, dance, and music. Budget constraints forced the Main South school to discontinue these types of experiential learning programs more than a decade ago.

“The after-school program and field trips supported by this generous gift from the Fuller Foundation will have an immediate and tangible impact on UPCS students and their families,” said Clark University President David B. Fithian. “We are incredibly grateful to the Fuller Foundation Trustees for recognizing the value of creating meaningful opportunities to enrich and amplify the educational experience for students, and for giving Clark the resources to help bring those opportunities to life at UPCS.”

The Fuller Foundation, a private independent foundation that provides support to nonprofit organizations, has been a longtime partner and valued ally to Clark University. This gift perpetuates the Foundation’s mission of serving the public good in a wide range of areas, from education to culture to healthcare.

“We are honored to be involved in a project in concert with Clark and the University Park Campus School,” said Mark Fuller, chairman of the Fuller Foundation Board of Trustees. “And we are more than confident that this grant, which aligns well with the Foundation’s focus on supporting youth in Worcester, will provide educational and engaging activities to students who otherwise might not have access to them.”

Daniel St. Louis ’00, M.Ed. ’01, principal of the University Park Campus School, noted that a robust slate of after-school clubs and off-campus activities will provide important enrichment opportunities to his students and further strengthen the partnership between Clark and Main South schools.

“We’re excited by and grateful for every opportunity to collaborate with Clark on programs that benefit Main South kids in real and enduring ways,” St. Louis said. “This grant underscores the importance of having a solid after-school program in a trusted and familiar setting, both as an educational enhancement and for the peace of mind it offers families seeking purposeful activities for their children once the school day is done.”

Since the formation of the University Park Partnership in 1997, Clark University has been a national leader in neighborhood-based education in urban settings. Through the Adam Institute and Department of Education, the University prepares teachers to work with culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students and provides educational opportunities and college-going support for neighborhood students.