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Middletown City Schools Receives $25,000 donation to Connect Middletown Youth

Thanks to the Middletown Community Foundation  

Middletown City School District (MCSD) will be ensuring that all students have access to reliable home internet thanks to a $25,000 donation from the Middletown Community Foundation. At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the district accepted the donation as a part of its Connectivity for Middletown Youth campaign. 

Prior to the start of the school year, over 900 students were identified as needing a T-Mobile hotspot. During the week of August 17 and up until September 14, approximately 1,300 hotspots were handed out to students. A month into the school year, MCSD is finding out many students need a stronger data plan. After a month of Zoom, instructional videos, and online school work, the hotspot bandwidth is simply not enough.

“The Middletown Community Foundation is a strong advocate for education.” says Patti Gage, Board President, “It’s imperative that all children have the same tools and resources at their disposal as they engage in the education process. We enthusiastically support the Districts’ efforts toward equity.” 

The district launches its Connectivity for Middletown Youth or Sponsor a Student campaign to raise funds for T-Mobile internet hotspots. This summer the district partnered with T-Mobile to provide students with high-speed, reliable home internet, but it needs additional funding to keep students connected. Each hotspot costs $183 a year and MCSD has distributed approximately 1,300 since August 17.  

The Middletown Community Foundation donation comes as MCSD works tirelessly to devise a long-term solution to the digital divide and homework gap its students face. Since MCSD is in a remote/virtual setting, it is more important than ever that all students have access to equitable learning.  

“We are grateful for the generosity, partnership, and belief from the Middletown Community Foundation.” said Marlon Styles, Jr., MCSD superintendent, “The $25,000 donation kick starts our campaign to get all students logged in and connected for success.” 

The district hopes the Connectivity for Middletown Youth campaign will raise enough funds to continue the hotspot service for years to come. To make a difference in the lives of a student, donors are encouraged to ‘sponsor’ a student for $15.17 a month or $183 a year. The Middletown Community Foundation has established the Connectivity for Middletown Youth fund. To make a donation online, donors should go to www.mcfoundation.org and click on "donate now." In the notes, type in: Connectivity for Middletown Youth. 

 About The Middletown Community Foundation

The Middletown Community Foundation connects people who care to causes that matter by utilizing dollars invested in the Foundation to pour back into the community via grants and scholarships.