WELCOME TO THE OLD STONE FOUNDATION

The staff of The Old Stone Foundation is dedicated to...

“HELPING BRIDGE THE EDUCATION GAP”

The mission of the Old Stone Foundation in partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has been to improve the quality of life for moms and moms-to-be in Cuyahoga County who did not complete their high school careers by providing opportunities in education, family structure and job skills.

The goal of the Old Stone Foundation is to

“SERVE MORE AND SERVE BETTER”

 

GREETINGs From The Executive director

On behalf of myself, Marc Nathanson, the staff, board of directors and our students, the Old Stone Foundation wants to welcome you to our website, and thank you for your interest in our program.

This year will be a year of transition. Our long-time and dedicated Executive Director of 13 years, Arthur Mayers, retired, and I will have the difficult task of replacing Art’s energy, dedication, and his success in turning a great idea into a great organization!...

Read the full Greetings from the Executive Director

 

Filling a Need

The Old Stone Foundation for Education serves the young women of Cuyahoga County who are either pregnant or have children and have not completed high school. Case Western Reserve’s Poverty Center in 2005 reported that the potential for teen pregnancy is greater in Cleveland than in any other major city in the United States. The study reported that there were 70.19 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 in Cleveland compared to the nation’s average of 41.9. The report also pointed out that teen pregnancy is one of the many problems that stem from poverty.

The issue of poverty in Cleveland is of enormous importance, as the city was named the nation’s number one big city in poverty as 41.9 percent of citizens and over 49 percent of its children live in poverty. The outcome of pregnancies in poor women and teenagers is a cycle of continued poverty. Of the state’s 2.8 million children, 18 percent are living in poverty - and that number continues to rise, especially in the Cleveland area. Giving birth as a teenager leads to a 50 percent reduction in the likelihood of high school completion. Federal officials estimate that nearly half of all welfare payments go to families that began with teenage mothers.