Mecklenburg County, NC โ Mecklenburg Countyโs philanthropic effort for MECK Pre-K kicked off with a $1 million donation tonight from Bank of America.
The announcement to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners occurred during an update about how the private sector can help expand the Countyโs growing effort to enroll all 4-year olds in kindergarten.
โThis is an incredible start to the campaign,โ said Mecklenburg County Manager Dena R. Diorio. โThe private sector has been a key partner since we started MECK Pre-K, and this helps ensure a quality pipeline of teachers going into the Pre-K classrooms.โ
The funding will provide scholarships at UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College for students to become Pre-K teachers.
Nearly 600 children are currently enrolled in 33 classrooms since MECK Pre-K began a year ago.
The Managerโs Recommended FY20 Budget includes an additional $21.1 million and a total County funding of $36 million next year for early childhood education.
The donation is part of MECK Pre-Kโs public private philanthropic effort that includes another announcement later this week.
