Benefitting Students and Teachers

The Cordish Companies’ Kansas City Power & Light District and Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation proudly announced a multi-year partnership making The Cordish Companies the first corporate partner to join in the Foundation’s five-year strategic fundraising initiative. 

The Cordish Companies presented a gift of $50,000 to Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation at the foundation’s annual breakfast event held on May 30, 2019 at the Gallery Event Space in the Power & Light District.

The partnership will further enhance the relationships between downtown redevelopment and the public school system, and open the door for future business opportunities and corporate partners to invest in Kansas City’s public schools.

“These children in our School District are vital to the future of our community,” said Nick Benjamin, Executive Director of the Kansas City Power & Light District. “There is such tremendous opportunity to enhance the lives of students, teachers and staff in our neighborhood, and our team is excited to make a difference. We are honored to be part of such an important initiative for Kansas City.”

In addition to the monetary donation, The Cordish Companies also announced plans to donate a portion of proceeds from a minimum of three (3) concerts held at KC Live! Also, the Power & Light District’s 1,000 employees will contribute their time and talents through a variety of volunteer opportunities both at the district and school level, including volunteering at the Kansas City Public School’s Back-to-School Bash each August. Each year, a KCPS teacher will be awarded a two-year lease in either One Light or Two Light Luxury Apartments. The program will launch in August 2019, and teachers may begin applying at that time.

The Power & Light District will also showcase student visual and/or performance art a minimum of four (4) times throughout each year. The Foundation and Power & Light District will work together to identify additional ways to benefit the students, teachers and schools including but not limited to apprenticeship programs, job fairs, job shadowing, speakers, facilities enhancements, volunteering, promotion and more. 

“This is an important partnership for our students, and the School District as a whole,” said Nicole Collier-White, Director of the Foundation. “To have a neighborhood partner like the Power & Light District will have a tremendous impact on our entire community. We’re eager to make the most of this opportunity.”

For more information on the Kansas City Public School District’s Education Foundation, please visit wwwkcpsfoundation.org