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Allentown, PA – Nov. 19, 2019 – Allentown School District announced today a new partnership with the national nonprofit DonorsChoose to help teachers tap into a network of 4 million donors to support classroom projects and more seamlessly align with district strategy and operations.
ASD is the only district in Pennsylvania that will now be a part of a select cohort who can intentionally leverage this type of philanthropic engagement to support personalized learning & instruction in our classrooms. Allentown School District teachers have raised $236,000 and completed over 490 projects on DonorsChoose. These projects vary from books to laptops and other tools to enhance the learning environment and support student success.
“We are excited to partner with DonorsChoose because it supports our teachers in creating innovative and exciting classrooms,” said Thomas Parker, Superintendent of the Allentown School District. “The District partnership will allow us to leverage the DonorsChoose platform to expand that philanthropical impact across our district and fulfill the needs of 17,000 children. We are thankful to DonorsChoose for the opportunity and excited and proud to be part of this movement.”
This partnership helps streamline and amplify individual efforts in a way that presents ASD as a unified district, guided by the Framework and supports students’ success district-wide. The platform will allow donors to support their classroom projects that align with the mission, vision, and commitment to equity in ASD, having a direct positive impact on teachers and students.
“As the board president and former teacher, I am excited to give our staff the opportunity to connect with local businesses and individuals nationwide who have the desire to help those in urban classrooms,” said Audrey Mathison, ASD Board of Directors. “This partnership will enable teachers to acquire additional supports above and beyond what the district can afford to supply when creating the 21st century classroom of their dreams.”
As one of the 27 members of the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program, Allentown School District will be able to fully support teachers in the use of the platform, ensure safety and security, and align efforts with the district’s strategic priorities. Allentown School District will be able to monitor all donated materials, principals will be notified each time a project is funded, and receive early notification when there are new “match” funding opportunities.
“We’re excited to have Allentown School District as a new member of the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program,” said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose. “Allentown School District teachers and administrators continue to work hard to make sure students succeed, so far they’ve raised $236,000 towards classroom materials from donors across the country. We can’t wait to see how the DonorsChoose community can support these educators even more through our partnership.”
The custom ASD landing page is available here: https://www.donorschoose.org/excellence.ASD
For more information please visit: www.donorschoose.org/districtpartnership
About Allentown School District
Founded in 1866, the Allentown School District (ASD) employs approximately 2,400 teachers, staff members and administrators who serve nearly 17,000 students in a network of 25 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city of Allentown, PA. The ASD is an urban school district with students who originate from 74 countries and speak 47 languages. 81.9% of the District’s families are denoted as Low Income. The Mission of the Allentown School District is to prepare each and every student to graduate college and career ready by having their individual needs met through active engagement in a rigorous, safe and nurturing environment. Allentown School District’s core values reflect a commitment to excellence, partnership and equity.
About DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, more than 4 million people and partners have contributed $900 million to support 1.5 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. 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.
Information provided to TVL by:
Melissa Reese
Communications Manager
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
