In 2000, Charles Best, a teacher at a Bronx public high school, wanted his students to experience the joy of reading Little House on the Prairie. As he was making photocopies of the one volume he could procure, Charles thought about all the money he and his colleagues were spending on books, art supplies, and other materials. He figured there were people out there who'd want to help if they could see exactly where their money was going. Charles sketched out a nonprofit website where teachers could post classroom project requests, and donors could choose the ones they wanted to support. His colleagues posted the first 11 requests. Then it spread. Today, teachers and classroom supporters alike are celebrating the first million classroom projects funded on DonorsChoose.org. Over 400,000 public school teachers across the country have used DonorsChoose.org to make sure their kids have what they need succeed, from pencils and paper to ukuleles and robotics kits. Today we salute the heroic ingenuity and compassion of these teachers — and the dedication of their supporters.Here are three easy ways to get involved.
1. The Live Show
The day got off to an awesome start when some amazing DonorsChoose.org teachers got an epic surprise on Good Morning America!
2. The Match
Today only, every donation made to a classroom project on DonorsChoose.org is being matched. Teachers have so many amazing ideas right now for their students, so spread the word!And if you want to get seriously inspired, check out the current classroom projects that could use a helping hand.
3. The Social Celebration
Have you ever helped fund a project? Are you a teacher who’s posted one? Perhaps you’ve just heard about the site and believe in the power and potential of public education. Use our Facebook profile frame to show your public-school pride and spread the news. Just visit facebook.com/profilepicframes and search "DonorsChoose" to find our #FirstMillion frames.Make sure to check out the #FirstMillion celebration on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We have these celebration graphics you can share no matter how you social.
We’ve come a long way, and there’s much left to do. Here’s to the next million!
