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Cole Hamels' Foundation Underwrites More Projects For Area Schools

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There was a bit of welcome news today for some Philadelphia schools caught in a budget bind:  Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels announced the latest round of school grants from his foundation.

Students at West Philadelphia High erupted in cheers as Heidi Hamels announced the $8,700 grant to their school, one of six Hamels Foundation gifts -- totaling $51,000 -- to area schools.

Cole Hamels (far right in photo) calculates that over the last five years, his foundation has provided nearly $1 million for schools.

"What we've been able to do with the grants that we've been able to give to some of these schools is provide a necessary boost that they most likely wouldn't have had," the lefty starter said today.

His wife, Heidi (far left in photo), was delighted that the West Philly grant will be used to buy three 3-D printers for the school.

"I think it's so unique and so interesting -- stuff that a lot of colleges don't even have right now," she said.

Today's grants will also provide a math curriculum for Overbrook Elementary School ($13,000); a literacy program for Highland Park Elementary, in Upper Darby ($4,000); classroom projectors for Tilden Middle School, in Southwest Philadelphia ($3,700); physical education equipment for Kensington Multiplex High School ($12,000); and a "STEM" (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) lab at St. Jerome School, in Northeast Philadelphia ($10,000).

 

 

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