Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation provides funds for hundreds of local students to visit the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

BOSTON – The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate was honored this month to accept a grant from the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation to support greater access to student programs. The funds will establish the Martin W. Richard Bus Scholarship Fund that will cover the transportation costs to the Institute for more than 1,200 youth and school groups from underserved communities of Boston and throughout Massachusetts.

The Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation is a 501©(3) charitable foundation created to continue Martin Richard’s message of ‘No more hurting people. Peace’ by investing in educational and athletic opportunities for local communities.

“The student programming offered by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute is just the type of educational opportunity that the Foundation wants to support,” said Bill Richard of the Martin Richard Foundation. “It is wonderful that the Institute offers free entrance to students, but many school districts need assistance with transportation costs. We feel privileged to be able to help.”

By using the Senate as a model of individuals coming together to resolve challenges through cooperation and negotiation, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute teaches the importance of civic engagement and participation.

“We are so touched by the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation’s contribution to the Institute,” said Jean MacCormack, President of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. “We hope to inspire the thousands of students that walk through our doors to work together to find compromise through common bonds, and to take an active role in their democracy. This generous gift opens up the opportunity for students from all corners of the state to experience our programs.”

Since opening to the public in March, the Institute has hosted more than 7,500 students from across the Commonwealth, with hundreds more scheduled to visit before the end of 2015. The Institute is free for Massachusetts students and school groups, however schools must cover their own transportation costs to the Institute. The Martin W. Richard Bus Scholarship Fund will allow schools that would otherwise be unable to provide funding for field trips to cultural institutions to send their students to the Institute.

About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute’s Student Programming

The Senate Immersion Module (SIM) is a program for middle and high school students that uses negotiation and debate skills to learn about the legislative process. Using high-touch technology on tablets provided by the Institute, groups of students work together to create a bill on a historic issue or current policies affecting the country.

About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate opened to the public in March and is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, ensuring participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities.