TPS students use their 'Imagination'

Adopt-a-School sends 600 to science center

5/10/2012

More than 600 fifth graders from the Toledo Public Schools visited Imagination Station today, courtesy of sponsorship by The Blade and Taylor Automotive Family, which were among more than 20 corporate and charitable entities that contributed to the science center’s Adopt-a-School program.

In all, Imagination Station raised $140,000 through the program. That money was used to pay for field trips to the center or in-school programs by Imagination Station staff for second through sixth graders from 45 schools in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

The program was begun in part because schools, facing budget constraints, could not afford to bring students to Imagination Station on field trips.

“We found that was a critical issue,” said Anna Kolin, Imagination Station spokesman.

Earlier this year, Imagination Station accepted applications from schools seeking to be adopted this spring. After a review by a committee of educators and community leaders, funding was awarded based on factors including students’ financial and academic needs and field trip funding in the district.

Information about the fall Adopt-a-School program will be on the Imagination Station Web site this summer.