After School Learning Center Students, TriMas CEO Grant Beard and Sr. Bridget Bears, Head of School at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The Academy of the Sacred Heart is the oldest independent school in Michigan. Founded in 1851 in Detroit, the Academy moved to its 44-acre campus in Bloomfield Hills in 1958. It is an independent college preparatory day school for young women in preschool through Grade 12 and for boys from preschool through Grade 8. The Academy is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and North Central Association. For more information, visit www.ashmi.org. "TriMas Foundation´s mission is to provide support to charities that engage in outreach within the communities that our company, TriMas Corporation, conducts business," said Grant Beard, president and CEO of TriMas. "The After School Learning Center´s program for the Pontiac schoolchildren supports our mission to provide educational opportunities to low income families within our community. We hope to set an example that will encourage others in the business community to support the ASLC," further commented Beard. TriMas Corporation CEO Grant Beard participates in a reading session with After School Center students Khadesia Ramsey, Auryon Sanders, Raeshon Dempsey and Dejanae Douglas. In the background are Apple computers purchased with last year´s grant from the TriMas Foundation. The money raised from this year´s annual golf event will be used for the purchase of 20 computers, software, sports activities, field trips and learning resources. As a result of the grant, the ASLC was able to add a full-time program director, Mary Lou Cochran. "We feel blessed to open our doors to the 70 children who benefit from our resources," said Sr. Bridget Bearss, Head of School at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. "We are grateful for the TriMas Foundation´s dedication and commitment." The ASLC, a satellite program that offers the mission of a Sacred Heart education to children enrolled in the Pontiac public school district, has provided academic tutoring and cultural and athletic programming for children since its inception in 1988. Beginning in 2005, the program was expanded and formalized under a collaborative agreement with the City of Pontiac and Lighthouse of Oakland County. Academy of the Sacred Heart Learning Specialist Cheryl Choinski supervises students using a computerized interactive white board at the After School Learning Center Grant Benefits 'After School Learning Center' for Pontiac Children (Read)