West Chester University, Wells Fargo, and the Coatesville Area School District will announce the third cohort of its Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI), a collaborative effort that features a fifth-grade reading program, college preparatory program, and scholarships to attend WCU.

In support of the program, Wells Fargo will present a $25,000 grant to the FDI on Thursday, April 11 at 9 AM in the West Chester University Alumni & Foundation Center Ballroom, located at 202 Carter Drive.

Wells Fargo Delaware Valley Region Bank President Lauren Tobiassen and Wells Fargo Community Relations Consultant Stephen Briggs will present the check to WCU President Christopher Fiorentino. Cathy Taschner, Superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District, will be among the leaders providing remarks.

Since 2016, more than 1,000 students in the Coatesville Area School District have participated in the FDI-Wells Fargo partnership program with positive outcomes — an assessment conducted through ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) indicates that a significant impact on learning and literacy has been achieved since the launch of the program. The Wells Fargo College Prep Academy has also achieved success in working with students in small group settings to improve study and test-taking skills, as well as in helping high school sophomores and juniors prepare for the expectations and rigors of college academics.

Frederick Douglass was a frequent visitor to the West Chester area, and gave his last public lecture on West Chester’s campus on Feb. 1, 1895, just 19 days before his death. The mission of the Frederick Douglass Institute at West Chester University is to maintain the legacy of the great abolitionist, orator, and statesman before the campus community, local community, region, and the nation through the highest quality of academic programming that promotes excellence in scholarship, teaching, and institutional advancement.