Star Tribune Imagination Fund grants support special projects in 63 Minneapolis and St. Paul classrooms

Minneapolis/St. Paul - (February 11, 2005) - This year in the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts, 63 special projects affecting more than 7,000 students will introduce a fresh approach to learning and literacy, thanks to Imagination Fund grants from the Star Tribune Foundation. At a time when schools are dealing with tight budgets, the grants provide teachers with opportunities to design unique, creative learning opportunities for their students.

Each Imagination Fund grant provides up to $1,000 to teachers implementing classroom projects that inspire creativity, collaboration and literacy. The emphasis is on reading and writing, with 85 percent of this year’s projects focused on literacy or language arts. The remainder of the projects are multi-disciplinary, falling in the categories of science, social studies, math, or visual or performance arts. The total amount awarded to teachers in Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools was $50,000 for the 2004-05 school year.

“The Minneapolis Public Schools Strategic Plan focuses on increasing academic achievement for all students,” said Thandiwe Peebles, superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. “Grants from the Imagination Fund enable teachers to bring their creativity to life to achieve this objective.”

Information on how to apply for a grant is available at www.startribunecompany.com/imagination or from Linda McAdam at 612-673-4924.

About the Star Tribune

The Star Tribune Company, a news and information company serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, is a subsidiary of The McClatchy Company of Sacramento, Calif. (NYSE:MNI). The Star Tribune newspaper is one of the top 20 largest newspapers in the nation, with a daily circulation of 381,094 and a Sunday circulation of 678,648 (per Audit Bureau of Circulation report 09/04). The company’s Web site, www.startribune.com, is the most frequently used local news and information service for the Twin Cities market. The Star Tribune Foundation has been supporting Twin Cities’ communities since 1945 and currently distributes about $3 million annually. On the Net: The Star Tribune Company: www.startribunecompany.com, and The McClatchy Company: www.mcclatchy.com.

Contact Pat Adkins
Phone: (612) 673-7572
Email: padkins@startribune.com