July 30, 2019—Demonstrating its strong, ongoing commitment to supporting Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and the Louisville community, GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, has partnered with JCPS to provide Google Chromebooks and state-of-the-art smart appliances to further enhance students’ learning experiences during the district’s inaugural Backpack League summer learning initiative.

Today, GEA President and CEO Kevin Nolan and JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio visited Louisville Male High School, where the Backpack League program is being held, to observe students using the technology in their classrooms.

“This is a significant investment in the community we all call home, and GE Appliances is committed to helping connect students with the resources they need to be successful,” said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances, a Haier company. “I look forward to seeing the cookbooks students are creating on their new Chromebooks, and I hope they’ll consider joining us at GEA when they complete their educational journeys.”

In total, GEA donated $70,000 worth of Chromebooks to the district’s Backpack League initiative, an innovative, four-week summer learning program for around 900 JCPS third through sixth graders. Students have been using the Chromebooks throughout Backpack League, and the devices will continue to be used by students when the new school year begins in August.

Additionally, the company donated two GE smart microwave ovens with scan-to-cook technology, an Amazon Alexa and approximately 40 cooking kits. The appliances and kits are being used in the “Compassion in Action” summer adventure, where students are strengthening their literacy and math skills while learning how to cook healthy meals. Using the Alexa, students are able to use their voices to operate the microwaves. Students are also learning how hunger impacts the community and what role they can play in being a part of the solution. They plan, shop for and cook a family lunch to share what they have learned and use the Chromebooks to create digital cookbooks. Nestlé, the world's largest food and beverage company, also made a substantial food donation to the program.

“JCPS appreciates the strong community partnership it has with GE Appliances, and this is just one more example of how JCPS and local businesses can work together to strengthen outcomes for kids,” Dr. Pollio said. “We wanted to create a learning-by-doing kind of experience for our Backpack League summer adventure students—and our teachers and community partners have truly stepped up to help design some really engaging learning experiences.”

Backpack League launched on July 8 and closes on Aug. 2. During the program, JCPS has partnered with community groups and its own teachers to provide students with extended learning opportunities focused on strengthening their literacy and math skills in fun, innovative ways.

Through this hands-on learning experience, students chose “adventures” they wanted to join, which have included camp-like excursions to different sites around Greater Louisville and deeper learning experiences in the classroom.

About GE Appliances

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we make the world a better place, and our team is committed to leading in the communities where we live and work. Today, GE appliances are in 50 percent of all U.S. homes, and our business is committed to serving every family in the country. We are a purpose-rooted and passion-driven organization that believes there is always a better way. We sell products under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier, and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners and water filtration systems. For more information, visit www.geappliances.com.

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