Umpqua Bank Launches Summer Learning Public Awareness and Action Campaign to “Stop the Slide”
June 12 2017 - 12:56PM
Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation
(NASDAQ:UMPQ), is kicking off an initiative to address summer
student learning loss, an issue known as the summer slide. Studies
show the loss of critical knowledge over the summer months is one
of the most significant causes of the achievement gap between youth
in lower- and higher-income families, and a leading cause of
America’s high school dropout rate.
“Kids are the future of our communities, and at Umpqua we
believe we have an obligation to help them thrive," said Cort
O’Haver, president and CEO of Umpqua Bank. "The summer slide is an
important issue that can be addressed through awareness and smart
programs and resources, and Umpqua is committed to being a part of
the solution.”
About Umpqua's Stop the Slide Campaign:
- Free Educational Resources: Umpqua has
created free summer learning packets featuring math- and
literacy-focused activities for kids. They are available online now
and will be available in Umpqua’s more than 300 stores in five
states beginning June 19.
- Sweet Treats + Smart Tools: Umpqua will deploy
five Umpqua Bank ice cream trucks with thousands of free ice cream
treats and interactive summer learning materials to help parents
and kids make learning part of summer fun.
- Take Action - #StopTheSlide: Beginning
June 12, Umpqua is kickstarting a conversation online with
inspiring stories, activities and actions to inspire others to help
stop the summer slide. Parents and families can find and share
ideas, stories and resources on Facebook, Twitter, and Umpqua’s
blog with the hashtag #stoptheslide.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Umpqua
associates will be working with summer programs in their
communities all summer through Umpqua’s Connect Volunteer Network,
which gives every associate up to 40 hours of paid time off each
year to volunteer. In addition, Umpqua will be sharing volunteer
opportunities online and in social media to make it easier for
others to get involved.
- Little Free Library Giveaway: Later this
summer, adults and kids alike will have the chance to win a Little
Free Library for their neighborhood by commenting on a post on
Umpqua’s Facebook page with their favorite book.
Baker City, Oregon: A Summer Learning Success
StoryIn 2016, the Baker City Summer Academy was started
with a $90,000 three-year grant from the Umpqua Bank Charitable
Foundation. Situated in rural, eastern Oregon and run through the
Baker School District, the Summer Academy is the school district's
first large-scale academic summer program targeting students at
risk for falling behind their peers in school.
In just its first year, the Summer Academy made a significant
difference, with 92% of students improving or maintaining in
literacy and 50% improving or maintaining in math – a rate that
could eliminate the area’s achievement gap within three years of
Summer Academy attendance. The second year of the Baker City Summer
Academy begins June 27.
“Umpqua’s early investment in the Baker City Summer Academy was
a critical component in our ability to launch and build this
program,” said Mark Witty, superintendent of the Baker School
District. “After just the first year, our kids made great progress
and we know this is a program that’s already changing lives. Umpqua
is one of the first organizations to recognize and fund programs
like ours that are working to address this important issue and I
look forward to seeing significant gains as a result of their
thoughtful and smart investment.”
About the Summer SlideThe summer slide
describes what happens over the summer when students, especially
those from low-income families, lose the achievement gains they
made during the previous school year. More than 25 million
low-income public school students in America are affected by the
summer slide, and it's one of the most significant causes of high
school dropout in America. For many students, the summer
achievement gap contributes to gaps in college and career success.
It’s estimated that it costs $1,500 per student, per year, to
re-teach forgotten material at the beginning of each school
year.
About Umpqua Bank Umpqua Bank, headquartered in
Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and
has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and
Northern Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been acknowledged for its
innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national
publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times,
BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been
recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine's list of
the country's "100 Best Companies to Work For," and was recently
named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial
Services Company in Oregon for the eleventh consecutive year. In
addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank owns Financial
Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance
company that provides equipment leases to small businesses.
Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua
Investments, Inc., which offers services through Umpqua Bank stores
and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon. Umpqua's Wealth
Management Division serves high net worth individuals and
nonprofits by providing customized financial solutions and
offerings. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in
Portland, Ore. For more information,
visit http://www.umpquabank.com.
Media Contact:
Eve Callahan
(503) 727-4188
EveCallahan@UmpquaBank.com
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