Special to
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — East St. John High School’s effort to reduce student dropouts among at-risk youths recently received a $5,000 boost.

Local McDonald’s owner and ESJHS alumnus Chris Bardell and his wife, Lentreise, joined Aimee Lopinto and Chris Pierson in presenting in presenting a $5,000 contribution toward the ESJHS JAG chapter.

JAG is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk.

JAG Career Specialist Glenda Gaines successfully enrolled 28 students this semester at ESJHS. The program is in its fifth year locally.

School officials said with the donation McDonald’s Corporation again demonstrated its brand mission of being a good neighbor.

“Combined with the generosity of McDonald’s Great Southern Region’s Owner/Operator organizations, McDonald’s hopes to elevate the success of the local JAG program as well as participants during the 2014-15 JAG school year,” a release from the school district read.

“With more than three decades of operation, JAG has delivered consistent and compelling results, helping nearly three-quarters of a million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.”