Philanthropy Column

The BellSouth Foundation intends to support efforts focused on improving student achievement in the Southeast, with plans to award $15 million over the next five years for this purpose. The Atlanta-based foundation will also supplement its grantmaking with a program that initiates activities such as research, technical assistance, and conferences.

The regional emphasis grew out of an 18-month internal review and the findings of a panel of education experts and BellSouth employees.

"BellSouth was an early and significant funder, and it continues to be a supporter," said John L. Anderson, the president of the Arlington, Va.-based New American Schools Development Corporation, which has received more than $2 million from BellSouth over the past four years. He said he hoped nasdc's and BellSouth's interests will continue to be compatible as his nonprofit organization focuses on "scaling up" model school designs...