AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, announced on Friday, Nov. 6th at Gage Park High School a $55 million total donation to three leading nonprofits working to address the achievement gap for children in underserved areas: Communities In Schools, City Year and the University of Chicago Education Lab. The donations will grow and strengthen programs focused on improving graduation rates, reducing dropout rates and increasing college and career readiness for children in kindergarten through grade 12 – with an emphasis on children growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods.

Photo Caption: (Left to right) Dale Erquiaga, President and CEO, Communities In Schools; Tamika Ball, Principal, Gage Park High School; Tracie Haas, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Brand and Communications; Janice Jackson, CEO, Chicago Public Schools; Roseanna Ander, Founding Executive Director, University of Chicago Urban Labs – Education Lab; Rebeca Nieves Huffman, Executive Director, City Year Chicago; Jim Balfanz, President, City Year and Kim Taylor-Smith, Director, Employee & Community Engagement, AbbVie Inc

Photo Caption 2: CEO of Chicago Public Schools Janice Jackson speaks to a crowd of students at Gage Park High School on Nov. 6th.