So you want to help the schools?

Here is a way you can help!  Donorschoose.org is connecting donors with school programs that need funding.

Here is an excerpt from the "About Us" page from DonorsChoose.org that explains their concept:

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with
resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit
web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or
experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom
reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen
Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

The site has been getting quite a bit of helpful publicity, part of which you can see at their news page.  Craig Newmark, from Craigslist.org fame, is one of the powerhouses behind DonorsChoose.org.  He recently appeared on The Colbert Report to promote the new site (they begin talking about DonorsChoose.org about halfway through the clip, in case you want to jump right to it):

Here is an excerpt from the "About Us" page from DonorsChoose.org that explains their concept:

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with
resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit
web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or
experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom
reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen
Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

I have chosen a couple of projects to begin with:

• "Balancing Act" for scales needed in the science classrooms at T.H. Henderson Middle School in Henrico County
• "Knocking Out Math Facts" for math classroom supplies at Swansboro Elementary School in Richmond City

These are both rated as "Low Income" schools — follow the link for more information on how they qualify schools as Low Income.  I started with a modest  challenge amount, only $1,126.  Along the way, I hope to add more projects and continue this as long as it is making a difference (forever?).

There are several ways you can help the schools:

• Encourage friends who are teachers to look into the program and submit projects for funding.
• Let me know if you see any projects at local schools that either you think should be added to the challenge.
• DONATE!  There is a thermometer on the upper right hand of my main page, or you can follow this link to the challenge.
• If you have your own blog/website, you can create your own challenges which fund projects that you choose.  They are running a Blogger Challenge to encourage people to become involved.

The most important part is to get involved somehow.  Any of the above ways would work.  In the end, it’s about supporting the children and the teachers who put everything into their work.