Ballmer Group

Last night, Grandview School District had the privilege of celebrating the success of our DiscoverWorks Summer Learning (K–7) and High School Summer Learning programs during our Summer Learning Family Night. The evening showcased the incredible work our students accomplished throughout the summer. Families explored student projects, participated in activities, connected with staff, and celebrated the learning, growth, and creativity that took place over the past several weeks. Events like these remind us that student success is strengthened through the partnership between schools, families, and our community. We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a memorable celebration. A special thank you to IGA Market for generously donating a beautiful prize basket for one of our families. We sincerely appreciate your continued support of our students and schools. Congratulations to our students for their hard work and to our dedicated staff for creating engaging learning experiences that kept students learning all summer long. Thank you to our families and community partners for helping make this year's Summer Learning programs a success.

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission is teaming up with Ballmer Group on a first-of-its-kind partnership for Washington families. The new Washington Family Housing Fund pairs $1.5 billion in philanthropic capital with our role as the state's housing finance agency to get 10,000+ affordable apartments built across the state. Here's what makes the partnership unique: ⭐ It adds capital to the system. The fund doesn't draw on limited public resources like federal housing tax credits or tax-exempt bonds. Instead, housing developers apply for forgivable loans, leveraging other funding sources. ⭐ It's flexible. The fund can support projects that don't always fit neatly into our existing public financing tools, like smaller developments or those in rural communities. ⭐ It's built for families. Rental units funded through the program must have two or more bedrooms and stay affordable to households earning about 50% of area median income for at least 60 years. ⭐ Did we mention it’s $1.5 billion? It's one more step toward a Washington where every family can find a home they can afford. Learn more about this new resource and how developers can access it: https://lnkd.in/gqMamQtR Graphic: Three core goals of this initiative, courtesy of Ballmer Group.

DiscoverWorks is a four-week summer program for rising 6th and 7th graders that combines hands-on career exploration, entrepreneurship, STEM activities, and real world learning. 🍕📚 Over the course of the program, students visit local companies, hear from industry professionals, and work on projects that help them connect what they learn in school to what is possible after graduation. Field trips, guest speakers, and enrichment activities are built into every week. One of those guest speakers was Kathleen Kennedy, Director of Culinary Innovation at Marco's Pizza (Marco's Franchising, LLC). She talked with campers about careers in the food industry, shared what it takes to become a chef, and explained how creativity and business overlap. She also brought over 40 years of experience and a simple message: there are many ways to build a career in this industry. Kathleen was once a JA student herself. Today, she works for a national JA sponsor. That kind of return is worth seeing. Watch the full video to hear her story, see the campers in action, and get a sense of what DiscoverWorks is all about. #JASEM #DiscoverWorks #SummerProgram #CareerExploration #MarcosPizza #Detroit

35 years ago, 500 people bet on the idea that the right person in the right classroom could change a kid's life. 72,000 alumni later, that bet keeps paying off. 🌟

CodePath was founded with a bet that the most powerful engine for economic mobility in America was the ability to build with technology. The potential for AI to expand opportunity is limitless, but only if we invest in the people and institutions that need it most. In partnership with Anthropic, Claude Corps is what that investment looks like in practice. Not a stipend. Not a course. 1,000 fellows, a paid year of full-time work, matched with a nonprofit, supported by intensive CodePath AI training. We design the program and make the hires. We’re so proud to be a part of growing an AI-native workforce! Apply: anthropic.com/claude-corps #ClaudeCorps #CodePath #AIForGood

Today, New America is excited to announce the 2026–2028 cohort of the Eviction Data Response Network (EDRN). EDRN brings together state and local partners working to build stronger eviction data infrastructure and collaborative problem-solving systems that help keep people stably housed. Reliable eviction data is critical to understanding who is most impacted, where support is needed, and how communities can design more effective housing stability strategies. We’re proud to welcome this year’s cohort and look forward to supporting their work in the years ahead. 🎊 Meet the 2026–2028 cohort: Colorado Department of Local Affairs University of Delaware Georgia State University College of Arts & Sciences The Polis Center Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) New Jersey Department of Community Affairs New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty NYU Furman Center Oklahoma Policy Institute Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania UW Housing Futures Center (HFC)