LEWISVILLE, TX (February 3, 2022) – Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) was selected to receive a gift of $3.3 million from author and philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott.
For the past 28 years, CISNT has served families in North Texas where the needs of students and families continue to grow and change each year. According to the Texas Education Agency, nearly 1 in 2 students (45%) across North Texas are at-risk of dropping out of school. Additionally, 1 in 2 students (52%) are economically disadvantaged. The needs of students and families have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, from heightened food insecurity to learning loss to increased mental health needs.
Working directly inside school campuses, CISNT provides critical supports to K-12 students across Denton, Wise, and Cooke Counties, partnering with seven local school districts, including Bridgeport ISD, Denton ISD, Gainesville ISD, Lake Dallas ISD, Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, and Northwest ISD.
Across 53 partner school campuses, CISNT’s evidence-based daytime and afterschool programming ensures that every student, regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. CISNT connects students to caring adults and community resources that help them overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Through holistic services which address students’ physical, academic, social-emotional, and mental health barriers, CISNT positively impacts student success, with 99% of students staying in school and on track for graduation annually. From weekend food support to professional mental health counseling to college and career readiness and parent and family engagement, CISNT does whatever it takes to empower students to be successful in school and in life.
Since 2017, CISNT has managed a 62% growth in programs, with the focus on ensuring that students have access to CISNT support from kindergarten through high school graduation. During the 2021-2022 school year, CISNT will provide intensive support to 6,150 students and will provide whole-school services to more than 33,000 students. Additionally, CISNT hosts approximately 1,000 volunteers each year who serve as mentors, tutors, enrichment coaches, and nutrition hub volunteers throughout the year. CISNT believes that it is their Community of Support who makes these results possible each year.
Scott’s donation comes at a crucial time and is the largest private gift in CISNT’s 28-year history. CISNT’s executive board and fund advisory committee will oversee the investment of the donation to reinforce the sustainability of CISNT’s programs and services while creating further opportunities for strategic growth and meaningful impact on student educational success through: evidence-based case management, robust afterschool programs, and accessible mental health services.
“We are blessed and incredibly grateful for this transformative gift,” said Ann Pape Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at CISNT. “At CISNT, we believe in the transformative power of relationships. We hold fast to the promise that education is the key to transformed lives. This gift ensures the stability of our work and the fulfillment of our mission and our promise to students across North Texas.”
About Communities In Schools of North Texas
Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) was founded in 1993 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of CISNT is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CISNT’s vision is that each child has the tools and guidance they need to succeed in school, graduate high school, and be prepared for college and/or career. Over the past 28 years, CISNT has successfully partnered with school districts to provide evidence-based dropout prevention programs in a safe school setting and help students address and eliminate barriers to their successful education. CISNT’s core beliefs compel us to recognize and celebrate our students’ diverse backgrounds, help create equitable educational outcomes for them, and provide an inclusive environment as we surround them with a community of support. All CISNT programs support the idea that every child needs and deserves five basic things: 1) a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; 2) a safe place to learn and grow; 3) a healthy start and healthy future; 4) a marketable skill to use upon graduation; and 5) a chance to give back to peers and the community. To find out more about CISNT, visit www.cisnt.org.
