AES Indiana and Marian University Announce Partnership to Expand Early Childhood Education and Improve Literacy in Indianapolis

Today, AES Indiana, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), announced a five-year partnership with Marian University dedicated to meeting urgent needs in Indianapolis’ near northwest area: increasing the number of affordable, high-quality early childhood education seats and improving literacy rates in area schools. This collaboration, part of Marian University’s Riverside Education Innovation District initiative, will help transform educational outcomes and strengthen the economic vitality of the community.

“At AES Indiana, our commitment to our customers goes far beyond simply keeping the lights on,” said Brandi Davis-Handy, President of AES Indiana. “We’re deeply invested in shaping a brighter future for Central Indiana through meaningful community partnerships. Riverside is a neighborhood where we’ve made intentional investments to enhance quality of life, and this new collaboration will expand access to high-quality early childhood education which is foundational for a more resilient community.”

The announcement took place at the historic former Larue Carter property, which is being redeveloped as a hub for lifelong learning. Part of AES Indiana’s financial investment will support the renovation of space for St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center on the property, a critical step in addressing the community’s shortage of high-quality early learning opportunities. “Near northwest area families don’t have access to enough early childhood learning seats to serve their pre-school aged children, and we are dedicated to closing this gap,” said Michelle Radomsky, Executive Director of St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center.

The partnership also invests in Science of Reading programming for near northwest area schools and through targeted educational programs to help train adults in the Science of Reading to ensure all students are equipped for success. Roughly 48% of students in near northwest area schools pass the IREAD-3 and nearly 16% of adults do not have their high school diploma, so the need is critical. Daniel J. Elsener, President of Marian University, shared, “The Riverside Education Innovation District exists to remove barriers to education from cradle through career. We are grateful to AES Indiana’s partnership, which will not only help prepare children for success in school, but will assist Marian University’s efforts to physically invest in the vibrancy of the near northwest area.”

This partnership aligns with REID’s broader mission to improve third-grade literacy rates, increase lifetime educational attainment, and physically invest in the vibrancy of the near northwest area. By focusing on high-quality early learning opportunities for children, Marian University and AES Indiana are investing in both the current and future vitality of the near northwest area and the greater Indianapolis region.

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About AES Indiana 
AES Indiana, an AES Company, provides retail electric service to more than 530,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, AES Indiana has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more information about the company, please Connect with AES Indiana on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. For more information about how AES Indiana is accelerating the future of energy, visit aesindiana.com.

About Marian University
Founded in 1937,  Marian University  is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana, serving more than 5,100 students, including 4,000 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students, earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university's high-impact, experiential curriculum provides hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities. Marian University has earned the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a national doctoral/professional university. In 2013, Marian University established its College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first new school of medicine in Indiana in more than 100 years, and in 2023, opened the new E. S. Witchger School of Engineering as part of the university’s continuing efforts to graduate students that help meet the Midwest’s growing STEM workforce needs. The university also provides undergraduate nursing education at Marian University’s Ancilla College in Plymouth, Indiana. Marian's national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship, the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship, various track and field events, and nearly 50 USA Cycling national championships.