Governor Kevin Stitt and Arnold Ventures, a foundation that funds research to better understand root causes of societal problems, announced Wednesday $10 million in new resources for the Be A Neighbor initiative. It is meant to serve as a dollar-for-dollar match in support over the next four years to focus on community-driven programs that have a demonstrated track record of unlocking student potential.
“Oklahoma is proud to lead the way in supporting effective community programs that deliver results and a brighter future for our young people,” said Stitt. “This partnership highlights our commitment to world-class education, workforce readiness, and ensuring every young Oklahoman has the tools they need to achieve their full potential and thrive.”
The nonprofit, nonpartisan Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy will collaborate with the state of Oklahoma and Arnold Ventures to identify promising programs. For those initiatives which show impact, the idea is to scale them and ensure there is sustainable public funding.
Arnold Ventures founder and co-chair Laura Arnold believes this partnership will help guide policymakers to find solutions to untap Oklahoma youth’s potential.
“With policymakers facing increasingly complex problems and the need to balance budgets, it’s crucial to support strategies with the greatest potential to drive real, measurable outcomes for children, families, and communities,” said Arnold. “We look forward to working with Governor Stitt and his team in Oklahoma on this significant partnership.”
