The New York City-based Heckscher Foundation for Children has awarded a $900,000 grant to Cornell University in support of its Urban Scholars program, the Cornell Chronicle reports.

The grant will provide three years of operational support for the program, in which students from Cornell help address challenges confronting New York City's poorest children, families, and neighborhoods. Undergraduate and graduate students in the program receive paid summer internships with nonprofit organizations and municipal agencies in the city to work on advocacy and policy issues. In addition, the program provides weekly seminars, public policy field trips, and a week-long community service workshop during the academic year.

"The Heckscher Foundation strongly believes in the good work of the Urban Scholars program, which is helping improve the quality of life for many New York City children, while developing Cornell students' interests in nonprofit and public-sector careers," said foundation director Peter Sloane.