DonorsChoose.org

The College Football Playoff Foundation is honoring teachers in a BIG way! Through their primary platform Extra Yard for Teachers, the foundation and the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl are both giving back to teachers through various campaign efforts, one of which includes the #BigDayforTeachers initiative! On Monday, September 14, 2020 the foundation awarded an Atlanta Public Schools teacher, with the most funded DonorsChoose projects, a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card. The lucky winner, Ms. Shirley Pendergrass of Hollis Innovation Academy was chosen as the front runner with 73 projects listed on DonorsChoose!

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Vice President of Communications Matt Garvey, APS Superintendent Dr. Herring and Hollis Innovation Academy Principal Diamond Ford surprise DonorsChoose gift card winner Ms. Shirley Pendergrass.

Ms. Pendergrass, a 2nd grade teacher, has been an educator for ten years and joined the Hollis Innovation Academy family four years ago through the District’s partnership with Westside Future Fund. The partnership ensures each classroom at Hollis includes two teachers. In addition to teaching 2nd grade, Ms. Pendergrass serves as the sponsor for Hollis’ middle school mentorship program entitled R.O.S.E.S. The program introduces students to robotics, coding, sowing and more. She has consistently demonstrated an ability to serve her students and entire school community. Ms. Pendergrass uses DonorsChoose to ensure her students have continued access to supplies and resources needed to achieve their educational goals.

She expressed her gratitude for the gift stating, ” Thank you! I am honored and at a loss for words! My mind is already thinking of items I need.” When asked how she planned to use the DonorsChoose gift card she expressed, “I have some Cue robotics that will help teach the girls how to operate Java, which is the next level. This will help my students when they go to high school.”

We are extremely proud of Ms. Pendergrass for utilizing DonorsChoose to connect with a thriving community of donors eager to fund our teachers needs! To help fund APS teachers like Ms. Pendergrass on DonorsChoose, please visit the APS DonorsChoose page.

By: Alicia Sands Lurry

Dozens of teachers at E. Rivers Elementary School were showered this week with a myriad of classroom supplies and educational materials totaling over $22,000, thanks to a partnership between DonorsChoose.org and OshKosh B’gosh.

Teachers and students celebrated the spirited occasion during a special school assembly on Thursday, Nov. 10, when staff opened boxes filled with gifts ranging from microscopes and multiplication flash cards, to Legos, laminators and multi-sensory seating.

Teacher Erica Pease said the donations will provide better learning opportunities for her students.

“I received tremendous math, science and social studies kits to cover all units for the remainder of the school year,” said Pease, who joined her colleagues on stage to accept classroom materials. “This is my first year teaching fourth grade, and finally feel that I have materials to be successful and guide my students in the right direction.”

A national nonprofit organization, DonorsChoose.org connects teachers in high-need communities with donors who want to help. Teachers request materials, supplies and experiences their students need the most, and donors provide support to the projects that inspire them the most.

For their part, OshKosh funded 25 classroom projects at E. Rivers, and another 27 at nearby Garden Hills Elementary School for a total of $42,000. The gifts were made possible thanks to customers who donated funds through their B’gosh Jeanius campaign.

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Students at E. Rivers give OshKosh B’gosh a “thumbs up” for funding classroom supplies for their teachers.

“It’s important for us to give back to the community where our stores are located,” said Tracey Del Moral, director of marketing for OshKosh. “We want to ensure our customers that the money they spend is going back to their schools.”

Teachers at Garden Hills were just as grateful for their gifts. Thanks to the generosity of donors, some staff received iPads, flexible seating, and other classroom materials and supplies. One staff member received a Zoo Atlanta in-school field trip for her students.

Third-grade teacher Katie Carlson said the chapter books and seating she received have made a huge difference.

“It’s awesome,” Carlson said. “It’s made our reading time more enjoyable. My kids are able to sit longer, and it adds color and excitement to the classroom.”