Ardagh Group today announced a major multi-year grant to Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to students from pre-kindergarten through high school (PreK-12) in the 24 communities in which Ardagh operates across the U.S.
It is expected that over the next 10 years, Ardagh sponsored education programs will benefit more than 500,000 PreK-12 students as well as delivering best-in-class teacher training to more than 5,000 teachers across 2,000 schools in Ardagh’s U.S. communities. In recognition of its significant financial commitment to its communities, Ardagh has been named PLTW’s newest “Transformative Partner”- its highest designation of partnership.
“Ardagh is a major employer in all of the communities in which we operate across the Americas and Europe. We are proud to employ more than 6,000 skilled people in 24 of our locations,” said Paul Coulson, Chairman and CEO, Ardagh Group. “Social sustainability is at the core of our sustainability strategy. We recognize the critical role education, and access to education, plays in ensuring equal opportunities and in building successful, vibrant communities. We expect to invest $50 million over ten years to support education in our U.S. communities. We are delighted to announce our first partnership in this initiative with PLTW and are making an initial investment of $12 million in this multi-year, impactful program. Ardagh’s investment will drive quality STEM education in our U.S. communities that are key to economic development, as well as to our business over the long term.”
PLTW is a leading organization which transforms the learning experience for millions of students across the U.S. to unlock their potential by developing the in-demand, real-world knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom. This investment by Ardagh will impact thousands of students in 24 local communities where Ardagh employees live and work in California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
“Ardagh Group’s commitment to students, teachers, their employees, and the communities they serve is impressive and inspiring. PLTW is excited to partner with Ardagh to provide thousands of students across the country with transformative, real-world learning experiences,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, PLTW President and CEO. “This is an incredibly impactful investment, and it will positively influence students by equipping them with key subject matter and transportable skills that will enable them to thrive in life long after they’ve left the classroom.”
“Working with PLTW will help us to maximize the effectiveness and impact of this significant initiative,” said John Sadlier, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ardagh Group. “It will also guide engagement and volunteer efforts between Ardagh employees and educational institutions, as well as drive improvements in student capabilities, formal testing results and, ultimately, entry into STEM career fields. This investment will lead to more internships at Ardagh, enabling students with practical, hands-on knowledge in STEM disciplines to work with our team here at Ardagh. We intend to launch similar education initiatives in our Brazilian and European communities.”
