Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford Visits a Brooklyn School to Celebrate Successful Citywide and National Expansion of Sanford Harmony Program

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford today visited a school in Brooklyn, P.S. 282, where the Sanford Harmony social emotional learning program is being used to help students increase communication, collaboration and accept differences. The program, based on the vision of Mr. Sanford is now reaching more than 200,000 students in New York City and more than 1 million nationwide.

Mr. Sanford was joined at the school by representatives of the program's national expansion effort, which is led by the San Diego-based National University System. The private, nonprofit System is advancing the program in collaboration with regional universities, such as Long Island University which oversees the expansion in the Northeast region of the United States.

"As a leading national teaching and research institution, LIU understands how the skills taught in Sanford harmony will positively impact students later in life," said Dr. Kimberly Cline, President of Long Island University. "Thanks to Mr. Sanford's generosity and Dr. Cunningham's partnership, this program goes beyond academics and empowers schools to develop students' character through teaching empathy and tolerance, all while helping each child achieve their full potential."

A proclamation from Mayor Bill De Blasio was presented to Mr. Sanford, marking February 28 Sanford Harmony Day in New York City. Mr. Sanford, a South Dakotan, has pledged to give away much of his wealth during his lifetime, and that has included his support of the research, development and expansion of Sanford Harmony.

"Thanks to the generosity and vision of Mr. Denny Sanford, Sanford Harmony is creating a foundation that will last a lifetime and impact generations to come," said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System. "We are particularly grateful and honored to offer this program at no cost to students, teachers and nonprofit schools to allow access to proven social emotional learning approaches that strengthen student development and achievement."

Sanford Harmony emphasizes important skills in supporting positive peer relations among children at the PreK-6 level and it is being provided at no cost. A central character of the Sanford Harmony program is Z, a wide-eyed extra-terrestrial. Participating teachers receive a toolkit of lesson plans, activities, and storybooks featuring Z, as well as ongoing program support services.

The program was developed over more than 5 years, based on the vision of Mr. Sanford and was recently evaluated and recognized as meeting the high standards of the national organization that reviews social emotional learning programs, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

A wide range of research recognizes the positive impacts of quality social emotional learning program in terms of increasing academic performance and outcomes in life. The program is now being expanded in some of the major school districts in the country, including Los Angeles Unified School District and Clark County School District, and is in schools in more than 40 states.

SOURCE Sanford Harmony