ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 8, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Laser Systems business unit presented a $4,000 grant last week to the Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ), an initiative focused on making the Parramore neighborhood a safe place for children by providing them with educational opportunities, housing, health care, and constructive after school and summer activities.
The Northrop Grumman contribution will go towards relevant programs that will help expose youth at the New Image Youth Center to science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and their related careers. The New Image Youth Center serves as one of the Parramore Kidz Zone Homework Roomz locations, where school-aged youth receive free tutoring, access to computers and the Internet.
"Northrop Grumman is committed to supporting educational excellence in the local community," said Gordon Stewart, vice president and general manager of the Northrop Grumman Laser Systems business unit. "Parramore Kidz Zone is targeting a neighborhood with an acute need for community partnerships. This donation is earmarked for the science, math, and technology areas, which aligns with our company's goal to motivate kids to pursue careers in STEM. Creating interest in these subjects at a young age will help the students grow into knowledgeable community members who will serve as their generation's business and technology leaders."
Modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone, Parramore Kidz Zone, launched by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in 2006, employs creative outreach to engage a critical mass of Parramore's children and linking them to positive opportunities, including pre-kindergarten education, parenting education, health care, mentoring, tutoring, and constructive activities when school is out.
"We are very grateful to Northrop Grumman for their partnership and their generosity to the Parramore Kidz Zone," said Dyer, who attended the check presentation ceremony. "Their donation to the New Image Youth Center renovation will help PKZ continue to provide free tutoring and access to computers and the Internet for Orlando's most at-risk youth."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
CONTACT: Paul Cabellon Northrop Grumman Corporation 410-765-7192 paul.cabellon@ngc.com Cassandra Lafser City of Orlando 407.246.2182 Cassandra.Lafser@cityoforlando.net