Herb Kohl Surprises Wisconsin Teachers By Funding All Classroom Requests For Entire State On Donorschoose
Donation from Herb Kohl Philanthropies fulfills classroom requests for nearly 700 projects, reaching 43,000 students
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As thousands of Wisconsin classrooms kicked off the school year, Herb Kohl Philanthropies announced they are fully funding the classroom requests of every Wisconsin teacher posted on the education crowdfunding site DonorsChoose.org. As a result of Herb Kohl’s generosity, approximately 600 Wisconsin teachers will receive materials for their 43,000 students — ranging from health and hygiene items to paper, pencils and books to laptops, musical instruments and microscopes.
“As the new school year kicks off, we are thrilled to support all of the classroom projects currently posted by teachers right here in Wisconsin. We owe a lot to our teachers and hold enormous hope for our students. They are both a constant source of inspiration,” said Herb Kohl.
On DonorsChoose.org, teachers post projects requesting materials they need for their classrooms, and donors across the country support the projects that inspire them. All Wisconsin projects that were live on DonorsChoose.org as of 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, September 6, were flash funded.
“Wisconsin’s educators are constantly seeking innovative ways to reach students and improve learning outcomes. I would like to personally thank Herb Kohl for his recognition of the importance of that work and for his willingness to help turn the dreams of those educators and students into realities,” said Dr. Tony Evers, State Superintendent of Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction.
“MPS is grateful for this generous gift from Herb Kohl. The funding of these requests allows our teachers to be effective in their approach to instruction and to provide expanded learning opportunities for our young people. Partnering with DonorsChoose.org is yet another example of how Herb Kohl Philanthropies continues to show its strong and tangible support of education,” said Dr. Darienne Driver, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools.
Among the projects funded this morning were robotics kits for Ms. Heard’s 3rd – 5th grade students to explore modes of transportation throughout Wisconsin’s history at Milwaukee Environmental Sciences School and materials to take learning outside for Ms. Mortensen’s first grade students at Midvale Elementary School in Madison.
“We are deeply grateful for Herb Kohl’s commitment to Wisconsin classrooms,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. “His generous surprise will be so helpful as teachers and students kick off the new school year.”
Nearly 700 projects were funded in 140 districts. Herb Kohl posted a message on every funded project, letting teachers know they were part of the surprise.
Herb Kohl Philanthropies has long supported Wisconsin’s teachers and their schools along with high school students through a Scholarship and Fellowship award program. He also sponsors the state’s Teacher of the Year program and has added a new category to his award program that recognizes Principals for outstanding school leadership. In addition to recognizing excellence in education for students, teachers, schools and principals, Herb Kohl Philanthropies supports many educational programs and initiatives such as those that support literacy, pathways to college and experiential learning.
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 two million people have donated $450 million to projects that inspire them. All told, 19 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.
