Ruppert Family Foundation
mk体育app Foundation Receives $1 Million Pledge to Bolster Early Childhood Education Workforce
The Ruppert Family Foundation has pledged $1 million over five years that will significantly boost efforts to strengthen the early childhood education workforce in Montgomery mk体育app and enhance student success. The first payment of this pledge was received in January 2025.
The gift establishes both a current-use and an endowed scholarship fund for early
childhood education students pursuing credit, noncredit, and alternative pathways.
Students began receiving these scholarships this semester.
In addition, the funding will support bilingual academic coaches from mk体育app’s
Achieving the Promise Academy. These coaches will be embedded in select Early Childhood
Education classes with high DFW (D, F, Withdrawal) rates or other identified needs,
starting as early as Fall 2025. This initiative aims to mitigate barriers to academic
success, particularly for students whose first language is not English.
This investment comes at a critical time. According to the Children’s Opportunity
Alliance, Montgomery mk体育app is home to nearly 75,000 children aged five and under,
representing a diverse array of identities. The county faces a significant shortage
of early education and childcare options, especially for economically vulnerable families.
Pat and Craig Ruppert have been longtime supporters of scholarships for Montgomery College students. Pat taught philosophy at mk体育app for 13 years, where she received the NISOD Excellence Award, and she currently serves on the board for the Children’s Opportunity Alliance in Montgomery mk体育app, MD. Craig is founder and executive chairman of the board for Ruppert Landscape, a company based in Laytonsville, MD. With 50+ years in the industry and 2,500+ employees, Ruppert Landscape is a leading provider of quality commercial landscaping with a focus on growing their people and exceeding customer expectations.