by Frank Schroth

A dollar or two may sound like small change; but small change can have a big impact. Talk to some Milton’s school teachers and they will tell you that, thanks to Donorschoose.org an online charity that enables educational projects to solicit funding, it is a tremendous help. Since 2011 Milton schools have raised $18,000 for a variety of classroom projects.

Almost all classrooms have needs that the operating budget does not cover. Rare is the teacher that does not dip into his or her pocket to cover the cost of materials requried to complete a lesson plan or project. Donors choose addresses that by providing a tech platform that supports teachers making funding requests and parents choosing which they would like to support.

DonorsChoose.org was started by Charles Best, a social studies teacher in the Bronx.  Best often talked with his colleagues about materials and experiences they wanted their students to have, but which they had no funding to support. He created DonorsChoose.org in 2000 so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need.

You can find Milton School Donorschoose.com projects looking for support here. They include a Glover teacher seeking a couple of laptaps in expand writing opportunities afforded by new writing center, a Cunningham teacher that seeks new small dolls and accessories for its dramatic play space; and a Collicot teacher seeking to enhance theater and yoga curriculum.

Bernadette Moonan, a Grade 1 teacher at Collicot / Cunningham who was able to acquire Chromebooks for her classroom to support collaborative learning said, “I cannot effectively put into words how very thankful I am for your donation to the Chromebook Collaboration project. This project will reach so many students in our school, in various ways.  .  .  On behalf of all the students this project will reach, thank you!!”

People from around the country can contribute to the projects they want in whatever amount they are comfortable with. The projects as you will find from exploring the web site come from around the country. What makes this an especial win for all involved is the matching contributions provided by businesses that Donorschoose partners with. These include: Horace Mann Insurance Companies, Starbucks Coffee, DirecTV, Lakeshore Learning, and the NEA Foundation.

In 2012, DonorsChoose.org launched the INSPIRE match program.  For the first 7 days of a project, individual donations up to $100 are matched 100% by their Board of Directors when the coupon code INSPIRE is used during online checkout.  As a 501(c) 3 charity, donations made through DonorsChoose.org are tax-deductible to the full extent of US law.

DonorsChoose.org donations directly benefit specific needs identified by teachers.  Students participate in the thank-you process by creating hand-made acknowledgements for contributors.  Michael McNeely of Horace Mann Insurance, a National Partner of DonorsChoose.org, is a  a local ambassador for the program along with Holly Concannon, the Elementary Math & Technology Director / Co-Principal at Glover Elementary School.  Michael and Holly have provided training, encouragement, and administrative support to teachers to get projects written, posted, and communicated. Mr. McNeely has a collection of correspondences that validate the impact of his company’s support.

As noted on their website, “DonorsChoose.org engages the public in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity. We envision a nation where children in every community have the tools and experiences needed for an excellent education.”

To learn more about any current projects in the Milton Public Schools, simply go tohttp://www.donorschoose.org/ and search on 02186 – because Milton matters!