Global pop star Katy Perry with Bunche M.S. music teacher, Matthew Hall and rising 8th grader, Jalyn Barber (Photo by Dan Harr/Invision for Staples/AP Images)
During the month of May, Ralph J. Bunche Middle School music teacher Matthew Hall asked donors to help him with a class project created using DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit website that raises money to help teachers receive classroom needs to aid their students in achieving success. The southwest Atlanta instructor requested funding for music supplies for his program – supplies that would be used to train the school’s 6th, 7th and 8th graders and foster a love for the arts.
On June 30, 2014, Staples surprised Georgia educators when the company fully funded the balance of every project that was listed on DonorChoose.org in the Atlanta community, including that of Mr. Hall. The total donation for Georgia was $128,158 and aided 77 teachers with classroom needs, helping more than 8,000 students in the Atlanta area.
Hall’s program will receive about $10,000 worth of band supplies, including-flutes, clarinets, a flugelhorn, a saxophone and a digital piano. “I’m just grateful for the assistance being provided to me to enrich the lives of children through music,” said Hall.
Along with the donation from Staples, Mr. Hall and two APS students were given tickets and backstage passes to attend a Katy Perry concert.
As the presenting sponsor of Katy Perry’s North American Leg of Prismatic World Tour, Staples teamed up with Perry in a nationwide initiative, “Make Roar Happen,” to celebrate and support teachers during the back to school season. Through this initiative Staples is donating $1 million dollars to DonorsChoose.org.
Atlanta Public Schools thanks Staples for their commitment to the arts in education and looks forward to the beautiful music that will be made by our Bunche Middle School students.
About Staples
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it’s in-store, online or on mobile devices. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Staples also offers free shipping for Staples Rewards Members, in most cases overnight. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples (SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.
About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. At this nonprofit website, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created project requests, and more than a million people have donated $240 million to projects that inspire them. All told, 11.4 million students—most from low-income communities, and many in disaster-stricken areas—have received books, art supplies, field trips, technology, and other resources that they need to learn.
