Bank One's $126,000 Grant Adds Math Clubs to More Arizona Schools PHOENIX, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank One announced today a $126,000 grant to expand the successful Rodel Math Achievement Clubs to 16 more schools in low-income areas of Arizona. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030116/NYTH053LOGO ) Part of the MAC-Ro Math Initiative of the Scottsdale-based Rodel Foundation, Math Achievement Clubs have significantly boosted test scores and helped parents of participating students improve their own math and financial literacy. "This is an example of how a sum is greater than its parts," said Carol Peck, President and CEO of the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona and former school district superintendent in Phoenix. "Thousands of Arizona third graders and their parents will improve their skills thanks to Bank One's generous support." Nearly a decade ago, Peck started the Math Achievement Club in Alhambra school district's third grade classrooms. Teachers in the program report more focused use of math instructional time, and since the program has expanded through the Rodel Foundation, 96 percent of participating parents have given the MAC-Ro Math Initiative an A. The grant from Bank One funds program curriculum modification and review, teacher stipends and translation of materials into Spanish. Bank One has historically supported the Rodel Foundation with smaller grants as part of its charitable focus on education. "The business community has made education the focus of our advocacy and attention," said Kristine R. Garrett, president and CEO of Bank One in Arizona. "Making this significant grant underscores Bank One's belief in the positive residual effects of supporting educational initiatives." Bank One ( http://www.bankone.com/ ) is the largest financial institution in Arizona, with nearly 2 million customers and more than 190 offices across the state. It makes hundreds of charitable grants each year in the following focus areas: supporting youth through education, encouraging economic empowerment and self-sufficiency and enriching community life. The Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona ( http://www.rodelfoundationaz.org/ ) aims to make Arizona rank among the top 10 states nationwide in public education by 2020 and is engaged in strategic partnerships with education, civic, and business leaders across Arizona. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030116/NYTH053LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Bank One CONTACT: Mary Jane Rogers of Bank One, +1-602-221-4878, office, +1-888-857-0590, pager Web site: http://www.bankone.com/ http://www.rodelfoundationaz.org/

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