Constellation Donates $1 Million to Teach for America and Brings Science Class to Life for Local Students

BALTIMORE, May 2, 2013 -Teach For America and energy leader Constellation today announced the company's award of a $1 million grant to support Teach For America's work in Baltimore over the next four years. The charitable donation from Constellation will help recruit, train and support Teach For America's corps members in the classroom. Funds will also support the ongoing leadership development of the program's alumni, who work in teaching, school leadership and other fields to address poverty and expand educational opportunity.

To mark Constellation's commitment to expanding educational opportunities, Constellation President and CEO Kenneth Cornew will serve as a guest teacher today in the middle-school science class of Teach For America corps member Conor O'Brien. Cornew's visit to Commodore John Rodgers Elementary and Middle School is part of Teach For America Week in Baltimore, April 29-May 3.

An annual national event since 1997, Teach For America Week draws community leaders to support educational excellence for all children. These volunteers serve as guest teachers in the classrooms of Teach For America corps members, inspiring students with dynamic lessons that connect their curriculum to real life.

"Constellation is pleased to support Teach For America's mission," Cornew said. "By attracting and developing emerging academic leaders, Teach For America plays a crucial role in expanding educational opportunities for Baltimore-area students. Events like Teach For America Week help foster a passion and commitment for learning and are a great experience for volunteers and students alike."

During his classroom visit, Cornew will deliver a hands-on lesson in energy. Students will progress through work stations where they will see the technology behind solar panels, explore turbine design and power a light bulb with electric energy created by riding a stationary bike. Cornew will be joined by volunteers from the Maryland Science Center, which also receives charitable funds from Constellation.

"Constellation is deeply committed to an excellent quality of education for all of our city's students. We are proud to be part of the work they support," said Courtney Cass, executive director of Teach For America in Baltimore. "We were thrilled that Ken celebrated our partnership by directly participating in student learning and sharing his expertise as a local role model."

Constellation has contributed a total of $464,500 to Teach For America over the past 19 years. This year, 340 corps members are reaching more than 30,000 students in 107 schools throughout Baltimore, while some 600 program alumni are working across sectors to address issues of poverty and educational inequity.

^{About Teach For America
Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 1990, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding individuals of all academic disciplines to commit two years to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Today, more than 10,000 corps members are teaching in 46 urban and rural regions across the country, while nearly 28,000 alumni work across sectors to ensure that all children have access to an excellent education. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.organd follow us on Facebook and Twitter.}