CINCINNATI – “Learning Is Cool,” the academic achievement incentive program founded by the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF), will continue in the Greater Cincinnati area through the FC Cincinnati Foundation beginning in the 2019-20 school year.
The transition will take place at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year at the program’s annual celebration event at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Marvin Lewis, along with the FC Cincinnati owners, Foundation members, FC Cincinnati players and staff, will be on site to celebrate the students’ achievements.
“Marvin is not only a friend, but also a mentor,” FC Cincinnati President and General Manager – and President of the FC Cincinnati Foundation – Jeff Berding said. “I not only consider this an honor, but also a responsibility, to ensure we continue Marvin’s amazing work and extend his legacy in our community. The Marvin Lewis Community Fund benefited from the generous philanthropy of the Cincinnati Bengals. We appreciate their support that helped lead to today’s hand-off.”
Berding added, “Marvin’s openness to share the team side of the business with me when we worked together at the Bengals greatly helped me prepare for my role today with FCC. When I was a child growing up in Westwood, I participated in the Reds’ Straight-A Program and it was a big motivator for me that I could go see Reds games as a reward for excellent grades. I know how impactful programs like these are, so between my relationship with Marvin and my own personal experience with this type of academic incentive, it was an absolute no-brainer for us to pursue this program and bring it to the FC Cincinnati family.”
“We are excited to be ‘passing the torch’ to the FC Cincinnati Foundation’s portfolio of community engagement,” Marvin Lewis said, former head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. “We believe they will nourish and develop the program under their umbrella to build upon its success for many years to come.”
Now in its 11th year of programming, “Learning Is Cool” is offered in the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), Covington Independent Public Schools (CIPS), North College Hill (NCH) and Middletown City Schools (MCS). An educational reward program, “Learning Is Cool” honors students for strong academic performance, specifically “A Honor Roll” achievements, which are recognized by GPAs of 3.51 or higher.
Currently, more than 31,000 students in the Greater Cincinnati region are involved in the program.
Kate Solomon, Executive Director of the FC Cincinnati Foundation, said, “Under the leadership of Marvin Lewis and through the dedication of Marvin Lewis Community Fund staff – including Barbara Dundee and Natalie Anderson – ‘Learning Is Cool’ has encouraged children to focus on their education and succeed in the classroom. The program is a perfect fit to the FC Cincinnati Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of children in our community through soccer. I’ve always been impressed with this program and the impact it’s had on the youth in the Greater Cincinnati area. We’re honored to be the next home for ‘Learning Is Cool.’”
Anderson will join the FC Cincinnati Foundation staff and will continue to oversee the “Learning Is Cool” program, as well as other FCCF projects.
“Learning Is Cool” adds to the growing roll of FC Cincinnati Foundation programs, including the Club Ambassador Program, which brings FCCF staff to local gym school classes. Additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks and months.
To learn more about the FC Cincinnati Foundation and to support “Learning Is Cool” and its other programs, visit fccincinnati.com/foundation.
