Emerson Electric Co., in Ferguson, Missouri, has announced a 10-year, $200 million pledge to help fund education equity programs in communities where the Fortune 500 electronics manufacturing firm operates.

Emerson will initially partner with the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis and the Opportunity Trust. Emerson’s support for the Urban League will prioritize the nonprofit’s Head Start & Early Head Start program, which promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children from low-income families. “With Emerson’s focus on early education…we are closer to ensuring more children in our community are kindergarten-ready, and thereby closer to progress and growth in St. Louis and beyond,” said Urban League president Michael P. McMillan.

Funding for the Opportunity Trust will focus on third graders in St. Louis, with a goal of doubling the number of students reading at grade level by 2027. Currently, 15 percent of the city’s third graders read at a proficiency level, an indicator that most students are at significant risk of not graduating from high school and are unlikely to be prepared for a career or college.

“Empowering every student with access to quality early education and academic resources, regardless of his or her race, gender, or ZIP code, will build incremental opportunities and progressive change,” said Emerson president and CEO Lal Karsanbhai. “Our vision is to make our communities a better place to live, work, and thrive for all residents by focusing on the education inequities that prevent all youth from achieving their full potential.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Kali9)