By Alex
Thursday,
Jul 31, 2008 at 2:49pm
Employees of The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation honored DonorsChoose.org, and 13 other nonprofit organizations working to make a difference in Baltimore City, Maryland, at their Employee Giving Luncheon on Tuesday, July 15th. The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has a cool way of involving their own employees in creative grantmaking. Once a year, The foundation encourages its employees to take a close look at the work being done by nonprofit organizations in Baltimore City, choose one making a meaningful impact on the community, and nominate the nonprofit of their choosing for a $10,000 grant.
This year DonorsChoose.org was chosen by Amy Gross, Program Director of The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Gross surprised the luncheon audience by announcing that each attendee would receive a DonorsChoose.org Giving Card so that they could help distribute the $10,000 employee giving grant among projects in their community.
Gross said of her decision to share the gift of giving with attendees, “I was so excited to be able to have this opportunity to use my employee giving grant to share the ‘gift of giving’ with others. I felt great, everyone who received the gift certificates felt great receiving them, those that have redeemed them got to feel good again as a giver, and hopefully the teachers and students we help will also feel great! It’s a win-win.”
Giving Card recipient Donn Weinberg, Vice President & Trustee of The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, said of his DonorsChoose.org experience, “The whole idea behind DonorsChoose.org is great. I was able to review many teacher proposals for funding and choose which one I wanted to fund with a gift certificate given to me. If I want to go back and personally fund other proposals, I can do so at my convenience. I have suggested to a public school guidance counselor I know that she should look into adding her proposal to DonorsChoose.org.”
On behalf of the 1,900 students who have already benefited from this philanthropic gift, a big THANK YOU goes out to The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and Amy Gross!
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By Kate
Wednesday,
Jun 25, 2008 at 4:58pm
…For awards, and we’ve got another one to report here at DonorsChoose.org. On June 2nd, DonorsChoose.org was named a ComputerWorld Honors Laureate and Finalist. What does this mean? DonorsChoose.org was recognized as an organization whose “use of information technology has been especially noteworthy for originality of conception, breadth of vision and significance to society.”
Thanks to our friends at Sapient, who nominated us for this award, we were selected to be one of about 200 Laureates, and were granted a further honor, designated as one of five finalists in the non-profit sector. The big day on June 2nd included an awards ceremony, honoring and medaling all 200 laureates, and it finished with a beautiful gala at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC, where finalists and award winners were announced. I was on site, dining with our Sapient promoters and some fellow laureates, and I was pleasantly surprised to be called on stage to collect DonorsChoose.org’s finalist award. Here I am, beribboned, and awarded:
I can safely say we’re excited to keep using technology for good!
For more information on the ComputerWorld Honors Program, click here.
-Kate, Deputy Director, Atlantic Region
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By Thalia
Wednesday,
at 4:46pm
Check out this innovative idea for engaging alumni around a 50th high school reunion celebration!
Alumni from the Classical High School Class of 1957 announced an exciting $20,000 donation to the Springfield, MA public school district at local event on June 13th (see picture at bottom).
In 2006, the 50th reunion committee of the Class of 1957 decided that instead of buying party favors and gifts for reunion attendees, they would instead give their money back to the public school system that had provided them with a high quality education 50 years ago. Alumna Diane Drude Hartfield said during the event, “We know the Springfield schools aren’t the same, and we know they need help.” $10,000 in alumni donations were generously matched dollar-for-dollar by Circle Medical Devices, a California-based company.
The Classical High alumni gift committee announced their combined $20,000 gift on June 13 to Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, as well as their decision to administer the charitable fund through DonorsChoose.org. The committee is encouraging local Springfield teachers to submit short grant requests for creative classroom projects which get posted to a special website where alumni from the other regional high schools as well as local businesses can participate in supporting local teachers. Educators from surrounding school districts were also invited to the event to learn about DonorsChoose.org as a funding resource for their teachers.
Please visit the Classical High School Class of 1957’s Alumni Gift website to learn more about these citizen philanthropists’ innovative efforts to support local teachers. We applaud Classical High’s alumni group for choosing to skip the party favors and instead, work together to provide meaningful support to their local schools and teachers!
Classical High Mascot
Springfield Teachers at the June 13th Event
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By JeffW
Wednesday,
at 3:36pm
Two organizations that we at DonorsChoose.org have a lot of respect for are Teach for America and the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP). That’s why we jumped at the chance to work with our colleagues here in Atlanta to convene a panel made up of: Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, Mike Feinberg, co-founder of KIPP, and our own founder, Charles Best.
These three Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist Award Winners spoke on June 10th, about improving education in our country. They also shared some fun stories about starting their organizations – who knew U2’s “Achtung Baby” played a key part in the founding of KIPP or that it would take some tasty treats to convince the first teachers to use DonorsChoose.org?
The audience made up of community leaders spanning foundations, corporations, the government, and education, participated in the discussion and networked before and after the event. Further demonstrating the collaboration among our organizations, a first grade Teach for America teacher, a fifth grade KIPP teacher who had received resources through DonorsChoose.org, as well as Jaime Williams, previously featured on our blog for her class’ Pay It Forward project, also attended.
The strong turnout really spoke to the emphasis that Atlanta leaders place on education. We at DonorsChoose.org are excited and energized to be a part of this great community of organizations and leaders as we work toward providing solutions to the challenges that face education today!
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By Kate
Tuesday,
Jun 24, 2008 at 11:22am
On April 24, 2008, more than 700 education supporters filled the Washington DC Convention Center to attend School Night, an annual event hosted by Fight For Children. Fight For Children is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure all children in the nation’s capital have opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.
By redeeming their DonorsChoose.org Giving Cards, School Night guests helped to fill Washington DC classrooms with math comprehension games, technology to improve literacy, multimedia art centers, and more.
School Night guests redeemed these Giving Cards at six computer kiosks connected to the Internet, allowing guests to directly fund DC classroom projects, right then, right there.
You can read more about the event in the Washington Post article, as well as at Fight For Children’s website. Thanks, Fight For Children, for including and incorporating DonorsChoose.org into School Night in such a cool way!
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By Kari
Friday,
Jun 13, 2008 at 2:20pm
On March 29th, 2008 Crate and Barrel and Donorschoose.org received the Cause Marketing Forum’s Silver Halo Award, America’s highest honor for companies that “do well by doing good” through joint projects that are both profitable and promote social causes.
“The Cause Marketing Halo Awards demonstrate the good that can be done when businesses and nonprofits team up,” said David Hessekiel, president of Cause Marketing Forum, Inc. “It’s a competition in which we all win.”
Since 2006, Crate and Barrel and its customers have given over $700,000 to public school classrooms through the unique Giving Card program created by DonorsChoose.org. As a ‘thank-you’ to its customers, Crate and Barrel distributed over 128,000 DonorsChoose.org Giving Cards. Those Giving Cards were redeemed online to help over 400,000 students. “The positive responses from our customers have been tremendous, and we are excited to continue our partnership with DonorsChoose.org,” says Barbara Turf, Crate and Barrel CEO. Research following the campaign found that Crate and Barrel customers not only saw the company as more “community-minded” but spent more at Crate and Barrel following the DonorsChoose.org Giving Card Experience.
In addition to Crate and Barrel, the DonorsChoose.org Giving Card program has been used by Google to send to clients and by Yahoo! to send to employees. This program has been highlighted by the Wall Street Journal as a proven mechanism for companies to increase customer loyalty and purchase intent. For more information about the DonorsChoose.org Giving Card program email, Kari Hayden kari@donorschoose.org.
Below: Our EVP of Strategic Development, Brita Lombardi accepting the Award on behalf of DonorsChoose.org
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By Katie
Thursday,
May 29, 2008 at 2:00pm
Below is a press release that Washington DC Mayor Fenty and Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso issued about our partnership. A big THANK YOU to the Mayor’s office for its support!
You can also hear Kate Hays, DonorsChoose.org Atlantic Deputy Director, talking to NPR about our efforts in Washington DC.
__________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2008
Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor
Washington, DC - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso today announced a partnership with DonorsChoose.org, an innovative program designed to connect district teachers and students with local philanthropists. DonorsChoose.org puts individuals directly in touch with teachers seeking support for educational tools ranging from school supplies to field trips. Since the start of the school year, 28 District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) have received over $137,000.
“I am excited about this partnership with DonorsChoose.org because it provides an opportunity for individuals to review teacher proposals, fund projects, and see firsthand, how exactly their money is spent,” said Mayor Fenty.
“This partnership encourages innovative teaching by providing a simple way to fulfill small, teacher-directed needs,” said Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso. “This exciting opportunity will help bring more resources to the city’s teachers and students.”
DonorsChoose.org invites teachers to submit a proposal for school supplies and projects that support the healthy development of students. Individual donors can search teacher proposals on the DonorsChoose.org website by areas of interest, learn about the classroom needs, and fund projects that they find most compelling. Students and teachers have a direct connection with their donors and often send thank you letters along with photographs of the projects.
CONTACT: Dena Iverson
202-727-6914 (office)
Below is a picture of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty:
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By Alex
Tuesday,
May 20, 2008 at 9:45am
Students at E.K. Powe Elementary in Durham, NC capped off several weeks of lessons focused on alternative forms of energy at a mural unveiling on Thursday, May 15. Students worked with science teacher Treva Fitts, second grade teacher Meg Goodhand and art teacher Malcolm Goff to explore alternative forms of energy through multiple disciplines while working with local artist Debra Wuliger to create a permanent energy-themed mural.
Durham Public Schools Superintendent Carl Harris and Progress Energy representatives were on hand as students showcased what they had learned to parents and staff. The materials for all of the lessons, and the mural itself, were funded as part of a $50,000 grant made by Progress Energy to DonorsChoose.org last year to inspire innovative energy education in Carolina classrooms.
Progress Energy has committed $75,000 in funding to support energy education project requests made through DonorsChoose.org next school year. If you are a North or South Carolina teacher interested in learning how your class can participate, please email alex@donorschoose.org.
Read more about the mural project at Durham Public Schools North Carolina.
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By Hylan
Monday,
May 12, 2008 at 3:00pm
Amazing partnerships are at the heart of all effective change-based nonprofit work! DonorsChoose.org has just struck up one such partnership; we are thrilled to announce that we are working with the Freedom Writers Foundation! I know you are asking yourself: “What in the world took so long?” Given how closely aligned our missions are, that is a great question. There is no excuse except that we have all been busy. Freedom Writers’ Executive Director, Faye Walsh, reached out to us last month and asked the same question – “what has taken us so long?” We both lamented that we hadn’t met before the movie! Oh well, it has literally been a love-fest between our organizations since then!
I assume that if you are on our site, you already know all about the incredible story of Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers. Further, you have probably seen Hilary Swank in the movie. In fact, if you are on our site, you probably embody the entrepreneurial spirit of the Freedom Writers. I won’t go into detail here, but if you don’t know about this group, check out their site at www.freedomwritersfoundation.org.
I spent this past Saturday morning with 150 teachers from all around the country who were participating in the Freedom Writers Institute. The morning was amazing (there is that word again). I followed Peter Thum, the founder of Ethos water. Peter talked to teachers about his journey and about the entrepreneurial spirit that made his dream a reality.
Quick side note- big “shout out” to Pierre Omidyar – he was an initial investor in Ethos Water and was responsible for what Thum calls the company’s “breakthrough!” As you know, Pierre Omidyar was there for us at our “breakthrough” this past September. Obviously, Mr. Omidyar recognizes great organizations when he sees them.
Anyway, I worked my way to the front of the hotel ballroom as Peter was answering the last question (a teacher was asking about raising money to bring her class to Africa – of course, I wondered if she had ever heard of DonorsChoose.org). Erin Gruwell raced over to me and gave me a big hug (who knew such a tiny person could give such a huge bear hug?). Finally, I was up and when Erin said: “please welcome Tee Hubbard from DonorsChoose.org,” the room erupted- literally! I couldn’t believe the reception we received. In retrospect, OF COURSE these folks knew all about us!! Needless to say, the presentation was a breeze - I was preaching to the converted for goodness sakes! By the way, I spoke to the incredibly motivated teacher who is bringing her class to Africa and she was two steps ahead of me – look for her proposal on our site soon.
I can’t express how excited I am about the notion of working with Erin, Faye and the rest of the teachers who work with the Freedom Writers Foundation. I think we are going do ground-breaking things together.
Finally, one personal note – working with these teachers this past weekend reminded me of a thought that I have been having since I started working here 2 ½ years ago. Every time I meet teachers who use DonorsChoose.org, I am always blown away not only by their commitment to their students but by their commitment to excellence. I wish I had a resource like DonorsChoose.org available to me when I was teacher.
Freedom Writers, the movie:
Real freedom writers:
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By Thalia
Friday,
May 9, 2008 at 11:00am
Bridgeport, CT May 6: DonorsChoose.org was recently awarded the “Elizabeth M. Pfriem Civic Leadership Award” by the Bridgeport Public Education Fund (BPEF). The award, established in 1995 to honor Elizabeth Pfriem, an active local philanthropist and child advocate, is awarded each year to a person or organization whose work in the Bridgeport community promotes equity and academic achievement for local students.
DonorsChoose.org launched its Connecticut expansion this school year in Bridgeport, the second largest school system in the state, in October 2007. Through DonorsChoose.org to date, more than 600 teachers and their students have received $160,000 in much needed classroom resources!
Andy Kaplan, Chief Financial Officer of DonorsChoose.org and I, accepted the award at the 2008 Teacher Recognition & Celebration event hosted by the BPEF, a local education foundation that develops programs and mobilizes the community for quality public education. The BPEF celebrated its 25th anniversary of service to Bridgeport schools by recognizing 8 outstanding local teachers and awarding visionary school leaders and community members. Remarks were made made by Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch, superintendent Dr. John Ramos, and representatives from Governor Jodi Rell’s office and Congressman Christopher Shays’ office.
DonorsChoose.org is honored to be recognized by this wonderful community of educators. Thanks Bridgeport!
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