Mass. groups land Walton Foundation money

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2012/03/07/mass-groups-land-walton-foundation.html

Arkansas-based Walton Family Foundation on Wednesday will announce nearly $3 million in grants in Massachusetts related to education reform, the money going to eight organizations – a combination of charter schools, public policy organizations, and education-related nonprofits, according to a press release from the foundation.

The grants in Massachusetts are part of $159 million in grants the Walton Family Foundation is distributing nationwide.

Grants were made to organizations and programs that empower parents, particularly in low-income communities, to choose among quality, publicly funded schools for their children, the press release said. The Walton Family Foundation, the philanthropic organization started by WalMart founder Sam Walton and his wife Helen, supports parental choice and competition within education, according to the press release.

The Massachusetts-based organizations and schools receiving the grants are:

Massachusetts Charter Public School Association $200,000

Pioneer Institute, Inc. $162,800

Bridge Boston Charter School 250,000.00

Charter Fund, Inc. 250,000.00

Edward W. Brooke Charter School 2 250,000.00

Excel Academy Charter School – Chelsea 250,000.00

MATCH Community Day Charter Public School 250,000.00

NewSchools Venture Fund NSVF 1,386,615.00

Also seen in Boston Business Journal and Dropout Nation