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The HISD Foundation today announced seven schools in which students were displaced due to damage from Hurricane Harvey will be the beneficiaries of a $4.7 million flood relief donation from Aramco Services Company, the Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of Saudi Aramco.
“The schools that will benefit from this grant are still working toward a sense of normalcy,” said Superintendent Richard Carranza. “It’s overwhelming, in a good way, to know that these students, staff, and school communities are the beneficiaries of this kind of generosity and kindness.”
The donation will be used by the foundation to replace and enhance technology and fulfill needs requests for Braeburn, Hilliard, Kolter, Mitchell, Robinson, and Scarborough elementary schools, and Liberty High School. Those items include, but are not limited to:
- Teaching materials for educators, including learning software and testing preparation materials
- Resources to support after-school and weekend tutoring programs
- Teacher and student supplies, such as desks, whiteboards, and chairs
- Books and shelving units to restock damaged libraries
- Musical instruments
- Gym equipment
“The resilience our students have displayed while we’ve transitioned them from their known routine to temporary campuses, some with an hour-long bus ride each way, has been a true testament,” said Kolter Elementary School Principal Julianne Dickinson. “As educators, we work to provide safe spaces for students to learn and grow, and with Aramco’s support we now have the ability to bring back some important activities like music class or after-school tutoring that were canceled after the storm.”
Aramco representatives visited each school and listened to the principals and their plans for getting their schools back into shape. The items purchased for each school will be used at their temporary locations until each permanent campus is fully rebuilt and safe to resume classes. All items, such as the musical instruments, books, desks, and gym equipment, will be relocated back to the permanent campuses for students and teachers to continue using in the future.
“We wanted to help in a way that had an impact on the daily lives of the children attending these seven schools so severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” said Aramco Services Chief Executive Officer and President Basil Abul-Hamayel. “We can only imagine how difficult it was for everyone to settle into a new facility after being displaced. We’re hoping our donation will make a positive difference in the students’, parents’, and teachers’ daily lives.“
CONTACTS:
Ann Scott
HISD Chief Development Officer
713-556-7275
Krystal Patout
Pierpont for Aramco Services
936-870-6367 (m)
About HISD Foundation
The HISD Foundation partners with the Houston Independent School District to secure private support, manage funds and provide accountability to our donors. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts are aligned with institutional priorities set by the superintendent of schools and Board of Education. Funds raised by the HISD Foundation provide resources to advance the core initiatives of the Houston Independent School District. The Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of business, community, and philanthropic leaders.
About Aramco Services Company
We are the U.S.-based subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, a world leader in integrated energy and chemicals, and have had a presence in the U.S. for more than 60 years. We are a contributor to the U.S. energy sector through employment, partnerships with energy peers and oil services companies, joint industry and academic collaborations, and research and technology development. We are headquartered in Houston and maintain offices and labs in Washington D.C., Boston, Detroit, and New York. We are committed to being a positive contributor in the communities where we live and work, and to making a difference through outreach that benefits the arts, geosciences, and the environment. www.aramcoservices.com