Foundation’s New Partnership lets Citizens Send Donations to Individual Schools – Even Classrooms
August 27, 2009
CHARLESTON, SC – August 24, 2009 – South Carolina now has a first-in-the-nation partnership allowing private dollars to flow directly to school classrooms.
The new partnership between South Carolina’s Palmetto Horizon Foundation and the national organization DonorsChoose.org means that parents, businesses and others concerned about recent state budget cuts to public schools can assist teachers easily and efficiently.
“Usually, when you hear about a donation to public schools, it’s a big donation from a big foundation,” said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. “But Palmetto Horizon’s partnership with DonorsChoose.org means that anybody can help, even if they can only afford to help one teacher with a classroom project.”
The partnership between Palmetto Horizon and DonorsChoose.org is the first statewide effort of its kind and a radical departure from traditional practice. In the past, donations have flowed to a non-profit organization, which then decided which projects to fund. Under this new arrangement, visitors to www.palmettohorizon.org can click on “Make Your Gift Directly to a South Carolina Classroom Today.” They can then view a list of projects proposed by state
teachers, including descriptions and estimated costs. The projects can be sorted by city, county or school district.
Once a donor decides which project to assist, he or she can make an on-line donation of any amount toward the total project cost. If the project is funded, DonorsChoose.org will purchase the requested equipment and ship it directly to the classroom. If the project is not totally funded, the donor may choose another project for his/her dollars to support or allow DonorsChoose.org to re-allocate the donation to another urgent request matching the donor’s interest.
Trip DuBard, Palmetto Horizon’s executive director, said the new partnership will benefit South Carolina classrooms while also strengthening Palmetto Horizon. The statewide nonprofit hosts the state’s nationally recognized Teacher of the Year program and also serves as a holding agency for private funds dedicated to public
education.
“Palmetto Horizon serves as the main charitable vehicle for those wishing to improve the lives of the 700,000 children in South Carolina’s public schools,” DuBard said. “We are off to a great start.”
DonorsChoose.org (www.DonorsChoose.org)
DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website connecting public school teachers with classroom needs to individuals that want to help. Founded in 2000 by a teacher at a Bronx high school, DonorsChoose.org has been recognized as “America’s most innovative charity” by the Stanford Business School and Amazon.com. Since inception, more than 100,000 public school teachers across the U.S. have used the site to secure funding for $36 million in books, art supplies, physical education
equipment, technology and other resources that their students need for learning.
