Phila. charter school to receive grant

The Wal-Mart Foundation is scheduled to announce today that YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School will share in a $5-million award the foundation is making to YouthBuild USA to support 2,000 youth who have dropped out participate in alternative educational programs in 60 communities across the country.

YouthBuild Philadelphia, which is one of the largest YouthBuild programs in the country, will receive $200,000 from the award.

Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation, and Dorothy Stoneman, president and founder of YouthBuild USA, are scheduled to attend an announcement ceremony at a YouthBuild house construction site at 1541 Rowan St. in the city's Nicetown section at 10 a.m.

YouthBuild helps young people from low-income families earn GED or high school diplomas while learning job skills by building affordable housing.

The 200 students enrolled in YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School alternate six weeks of academic classes with training in construction, technology or nursing.

Several national studies have called YouthBuild one of the most effective programs in the country at bringing young dropouts back to school and setting them on better paths.