The Kemper Foundation’s Read Conmigo Program Awards Fall LA-Area 2024 Bilingual Educator Grants

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Kemper Foundation, the philanthropic partner of Kemper Corporation, announced today it has awarded grants to advance bilingual literacy to schoolteachers in the greater Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami areas. This is the fifth round of grants awarded through the Foundation’s Read Conmigo program since the program launched in 2022, bringing the program’s award total to nearly $750,000.

Read Conmigo grants are focused on strengthening bilingual literacy skills and improving learning opportunities for elementary Latino and Hispanic students. The Kemper Foundation annually awards up to 100 grants of $3,000 each to public and charter schoolteachers of Spanish-English bilingual classrooms. The grants can be used for classroom resources, tools and materials, and professional development.

Recipients were selected by a panel of Kemper Foundation principals and partners, including the Bilingual/ESL Education Association of the Metroplex (Dallas), the Florida Association for Bilingual Education, the California Association for Bilingual Education, and GPSN.

"We are incredibly proud to support this dedicated group of educators who are making a lasting impact on their bilingual students,” said Barbara Ciesemier, President of The Kemper Foundation. “By equipping teachers with the resources and professional development they need, we’re not only helping them create enriched learning environments but also contributing to meaningful academic growth. It's inspiring to see how the Read Conmigo grants are enhancing students’ bilingual abilities and overall classroom engagement."

"My goal as an educator has always been to provide my students with a welcoming learning environment,” said fourth grade teacher Carlos Alcaraz, Read Conmigo grant recipient from Redwood Elementary School in Fontana, California. “Bilingual educators are often asked to find native language materials and that can be difficult. My students will increase their Spanish vocabulary and fluency with the books and other materials I will purchase with the Read Conmigo grant. I will finally be able to provide these items that I have only dreamed of having in my classroom for years.”

About The Kemper Foundation

The Kemper Foundation is the philanthropic partner of Kemper Corporation and focuses on support for charitable causes and organizations in education, health and community development. Through our owned-programs, key partnerships, financial donations, and Kemper employee volunteerism, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we live and work.