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Erikson Institute Announces $6 Million Gift from John and Kathy Schreiber

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, June 5, 2023

Erikson Institute announced today a new $6 million gift from John and Kathy Schreiber to help enroll more graduate students with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are seeking degrees in early childhood education, child development and social work. The Schreiber gift also provides critical funding for Educator Impact Grants for Erikson’s reimagined teacher education master’s degree program with a triple endorsement — the first of its kind in Illinois.

Erikson’s Master of Science in Early Childhood Education prepares students with three embedded endorsements in early childhood education, special education, and bilingual/ESL. The Educator Impact Grants will pay full tuition and fees for qualifying students. The first cohort of grant recipients started in May 2023. The grant requires graduates to serve young children in divested communities for at least four years. The Schreiber gift will also support future cohorts in Lake County, Illinois, where John and Kathy focus much of their philanthropic investment.

“Erikson Institute is deeply grateful to John and Kathy for this transformational gift that will enable us to prepare more teachers who can meet the diversity of needs of every child in their classroom,” said Dr. Mariana Souto-Manning, President of Erikson Institute. “This is an important step forward as Erikson continues on the journey in the pursuit of justice for all young children and families.”

John and Kathy Schreiber, local philanthropists with a deep interest in equity and education, are dedicated to investing in high-quality education and supportive services that help people reach their full potential. The Schreibers have supported Erikson Institute since 2019.

John Schreiber explained the gift to Erikson in the context of his family’s philanthropic goals: “In partnership with Erikson Institute, we view this investment as a unique opportunity to support high-quality preparation for teachers who live and work in the vibrant communities we are dedicated to serving.”

Erikson creates innovative programs focused on increasing professional expertise and equitable opportunity in the early childhood field. For more information about Erikson’s early childhood teacher education program, which is now enrolling students for the Fall, 2023 term, please visit the program webpage.

NOTE: A photo of John and Kathy Schreiber is available upon request.

Erikson Institute educates, inspires, and promotes leadership to serve the needs of children and families. We are a premier graduate school dedicated to child development. We provide direct services to our community’s children and families. We are leaders in influencing early childhood policy. We work tirelessly every day so that all children can achieve optimal educational, social, emotional, and physical well-being. At Erikson Institute, we know that investing in the early years of children will last a lifetime. Learn more at www.erikson.edu

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John and Kathy Schreiber

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