TeachersCan and DonorsChoose Team Up

TeachersCan and DonorsChoose Team Up to Fulfill $1.5 Million in Classroom Wishes for Texas Teachers

Teachers Throughout the State Asked to Submit Classroom Project Requests by April 26

AUSTIN – With the pandemic and recent winter storms, teachers and students have faced the toughest teaching and learning challenges in a generation. To thank Texas teachers for their unwavering commitment to students, #TeachersCan is partnering with DonorsChoose to fund up to $1.5 million worth of classroom projects for educators across Texas through a major matching campaign. The campaign kicks off on April 26 and culminates May 4 on National Teacher Appreciation Day with a #TeachersCan-A-Thon.

Ahead of the campaign, Texas teachers are asked to create and submit their classroom projects by April 26 at DonorsChoose.org/teachers to be considered for funding. Once on the site, they can create a project and request critical classroom materials that make learning enrichment opportunities possible for their students.

When the fundraising effort launches on April 26, individual donations will be matched by #TeachersCan Partners across the state — dollar-for-dollar — up to $500,000 — doubling the impact of contributions for a total of $1 million. Then, through May 4, 2021, National Teacher Appreciation Day, TEGNA-affiliated stations across Texas will help raise an additional $500,000 through DonorsChoose during a #TeachersCan-A-Thon. Funds raised during the campaign will be used by DonorsChoose to fund teachers’ classroom projects. Only projects in Texas are eligible for funding through this initiative.

“The need for classroom resources is always high, but the impacts of COVID and the learning loss resulting from the pandemic have exacerbated the need for more support for our teachers and students,” said Dr. Shari Albright, president of the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, a #TeachersCan partner. “Over the last year, teachers have demonstrated incredible resilience, adaptability, and innovation, and now we hope Texans will join together to show our educators just how much we appreciate them.”

#TeachersCan Partners have stepped up to jump start the matching campaign by raising

$500,000 toward the goal. These Partners include: Houston Endowment, H-E-B, Spurs Give, Shiner Beer, the Charles Butt Foundation, the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, and Laredo Learns, which is a collaboration of Southern Distributing, Laurel Insurance Agency and Associates, Fundraising Academy @ Texas A&M University, International Bank of Commerce, Falcon Bank, Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust, and Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Peters. “If there’s one thing Texas teachers know how to do, it’s dream big for their students,” said Charles Best, CEO of DonorsChoose. “The #TeachersCan fundraising initiative has the potential to bring a large number of those learning dreams to life, helping teachers and students across the state access tools they need, from books to technology and beyond.”

### 

About #TeachersCan

#TeachersCan is a statewide movement led by teachers and supported by more than 125 partnering businesses and organizations committed to elevating the teaching profession. For more information on how to participate in this matching campaign for Texas teachers visit teacherscan.org/DonorsChoose/.

About DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, more than 4.7 million people and partners have contributed $1 billion to support 1.9 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences in Texas and across the country. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Mariah Contreras, Talk Strategy, 806-544-1315