Churchill Downs Foundation Contributes $100,000 to Jefferson County Schools' Every 1 Reads Program
The Churchill Downs Foundation has contributed $100,000 to Every 1 Reads, a community-wide effort with a goal of having every child enrolled in Jefferson County Public Schools (“JCPS”) reading at or above their grade level.
Steve Sexton, Churchill Downs Incorporated executive vice president and president of Churchill Downs racetrack, presented a check for the $100,000 contribution to Every 1 Reads to Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sheldon Berman on Monday, August 25 at Semple Elementary School, a school located near the historic home of the Kentucky Derby.
Sexton and Dr. Berman were joined at the ceremony attended by representatives of Greater Louisville Inc. and the office of Mayor Jerry Abramson, along with Semple Elementary students and Principal Tiffany Gerstner.
“Every 1 Reads is a great community partnership and we are excited that our company’s $100,000 contribution has taken this program a significant step closer to its overall fundraising goal of $8 million,” said Sexton. “This contribution by the Churchill Downs Foundation to this unique, imaginative and exciting program is one of the largest in our company’s history. Every 1 Reads has already registered significant success in improving the reading proficiency of students throughout this community that has been Churchill Downs’ hometown for 134 years.”
Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. The track’s 2008 Fall Meet is scheduled for Oct. 26-Nov. 29. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.