By Adina Ba
Senior Analyst, Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy
By Adina Ba
Senior Analyst, Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy
For many children, summer vacation can be a time of infinite fun, enrichment and discovery. With summer camps to time with family, sports, and trips to libraries and museums, summer can be a time of serious fun and learning. While these adventures are not typically considered formal learning experiences, they actually have tremendous academic, social, health and emotional benefits. Over half of the academic achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, low-income students are less likely to complete high school or attend college (Alexander et al, 2007). 
According to the National Summer Learning Association, most students lose about two months of grade levels over the summer months in math. Additionally, low-income students lose more than two months of reading advancement, while their middle-class peers make slight gains.
To help prepare all students for future educational and workplace opportunities, the Pitney Bowes Foundation emphasizes a special focus on summer learning initiatives with community partners like Horizons, B E L L, the National Center for Family Literacy, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and Reading is Fundamental. Additionally, through our local community support programs, Pitney Bowes Local Community Leadership Teams provide grants to community centers and other organizations that provide summer camps and educational programs that enhance student learning in areas ranging from arts, reading and writing to science and sailing.
Pitney Bowes employees are also very engaged in summer learning activities. From Mississauga, Canada to Harlow, UK, and from Troy, NY, to Noida, India, PB colleagues are supporting literacy and learning in their communities through many creative partnerships.Our HQ-based team has brought the Share the Message: READ! program sponsored by the Pitney Bowes Foundation / Reading Is Fundamental, to students in summer camps run by community centers and recreation departments in Bridgeport, CT. We’ve also partnered with our local Volunteer Center and other corporate employee volunteers in summer reading programs at local community centers in Stamford. These fun and easy volunteer opportunities enable our employees to take a quick break from their usual work setting and routine time and make an important difference in the lives of young students. The time is well spent and the experience is very gratifying. 
Together, we bring dynamic experiences to students who are excited and eager to learn. And in doing so, we know that we are ensuring that the students are ready to make the most of the school year ahead.
