With Louisiana students learning from home, staying connected is crucial. Every Kid a King, established by Jim and Dana Bernhard and the Shaw Group with the purpose of supporting nonprofits in Louisiana, has extended the gift of connectivity in this unprecedented time of social distancing and isolation. 

The nonprofit has partnered with Cox Communications to offer 1,000 East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) families six months of Internet service through Cox’s Connect2Compete program. This organization has graciously donated $60,000 to meet the immediate needs of disadvantaged students in East Baton Rouge.

On the heels of Governor John Bel Edwards’ announcement to shutter schools for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, EBRPSS will work to transform a traditional face-to-face system to one that operates entirely at a distance. The district will apply a hybrid approach of printed packets and online resources. However, the biggest distance-learning challenge that families across the world face is the lack of Internet access at home.

Every Kid a King hopes to ease that financial burden. “We know our educators are working tirelessly to engage with students, and families are doing everything they can to fill the void of their classroom teacher,” Dana Bernhard says. “We believe it’s our duty to support these extraordinary efforts any way we can and are glad that Cox is here to support.”

The first 1,000 East Baton Rouge families to qualify through Cox’s Connect2Compete program will receive six months of Internet service. Families must fill out the survey linked here for a chance to receive one of the COX self-installation kits.