INGLEWOOD, CA – Frank D. Parent Elementary school students are enjoying new school supplies after receiving a donation from a local IKEA dedicated to supporting young scholars.

The IKEA in Carson dropped off truckloads of desks, tables, office chairs, folders, binders, rugs, lamps, plants and clocks during three deliveries over this past month valued at $7,500.

“We are overjoyed and so appreciative of this gift,” Inglewood Unified State Administrator Dr. Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana. “IKEA has given us more than just supplies; they have invested an interest in our children and joined us as partners in guiding students to success.”

The donations were coordinated by a Parent Elementary parent in collaboration with IKEA, which works to improve opportunities for children through donations and other efforts.

The new educational tools also continue Inglewood Unified’s focus on improving the learning environment of students across this District.

Parent Elementary boasts French and Spanish dual immersion programs to help students develop biliteracy for life-long learning and cultural understanding. The program is supported by the French-American Cultural Exchange (FACE) Foundation, which has facilitated grants to purchase books and materials and provide faculty and administrator training.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. recently visited Parent, where his children attended, and shared the value of learning a second language.

“I learned French as a student and I recall the many ways that it benefited me to know a second language,” he said. “You open up a whole new world of opportunities, increase cognitive skills, improve problem-solving, critical thinking and develop social and cultural skills.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

050219_INGLEWOOD_IKEA: Staff members of IKEA in Carson donated $7,500 worth of school supplies to Frank D. Parent Elementary School.