Fidelity launches US initiative to help 8th graders

Globe Staff

Fidelity Investments, the Boston mutual funds giant, said it is expanding its collaboration with a nonprofit group that partners with middle schools to help low-income children.

The nonprofit is Boston-based Citizen Schools. The nonprofit and Fidelity have been working together locally for 12 years. Now Citizen Schools and Fidelity are looking to turn a Boston collaboration into their first national initiative.

The initiative will focus on helping eighth-grade students across the country to stay in school and give them help in getting ready for college and choosing a career.

"Fidelity’s support, which will include employee volunteer, monetary, and in-kind support, will enable Citizen Schools to expand 8th Grade Academy to new sites, including five new schools and three new markets (New York City, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, N.M.) in the fall of 2010," Fidelity said in a press release. "Fidelity volunteers will participate in program activities, such as apprenticeship teaching and resume writing and interview skills coaching, in the new markets, as well as 8th Grade Academy programs in Greater Boston, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, N.C., and Newark, N.J., near where Fidelity has offices."