Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI) a provider of post-secondary education services focused on providing higher access to higher education, announced today that it will sponsor a biweekly tennis program for students of the Monarch School, which serves the academic needs of homeless children in San Diego.
Outside of his role as senior director of academic partnerships for Bridgepoint Education, David Vande Pol is a member of the United States Tennis Association, and an experienced tennis instructor. "When I toured the Monarch School, and learned of the good work they were doing for our city's homeless children, I knew the executives at Bridgepoint would want to get involved. They are generously donating my time to teach two classes a week for these inspirational students."
The Monarch School of San Diego is the only school in the country that serves the academic needs of homeless children. The school's sole aim is to break the cycle of homelessness. The average child entering Monarch is three years behind their same-age peers academically. While attending the school's intensive programs, most children advance an entire school year in just six months, helping them recover the educational ground they lost. There are 2,000 homeless children in San Diego, and Monarch educates 100 children at any time, and almost 500 a year.
"I've always marveled at how playing a sport, like tennis, effects positive change on other areas of one's life. When you are practicing hard to improve your game, learning new strategies, setting fitness goals for yourself, and fostering healthy competition, it inevitably causes that discipline and mental focus to become part of your character, outside of the courts as well," said Vande Pol. "I am proud to be able to teach this sport to these inspirational children, and grateful that Bridgepoint is getting involved in such a great cause."
"Bridgepoint's caring leadership and staff have a huge heart for Monarch's kids. They support Monarch in many ways in addition to the tennis program. They provide family night dinners for the kids and their parents, collect gently used clothing and school supplies, and make generous personal financial contributions to Monarch. Bridgepoint is also a major sponsor of our annual fundraiser, the Diamond in the Rough gala," said Paula Kelly, vice president of development at Monarch Schools.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the disciplines of business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations at 858.668.2580.