Herb Kohl Philanthropies is again boosting Wisconsin teachers by fully funding all Wisconsin teachers’ project requests on the nonprofit education fundraising platforms DonorsChoose.
The Milwaukee-based HKP has done this on four previous occasions, funding more than 550 teacher requests at a cost of nearly $3 million. If you add in other initiatives, like matching grants, the group has help fund more than 4,000 DonorsChoose projects.
Teachers use DonorsChoose to raise money for classroom books and educational supplies, techology, programming and such basics as food, clothing and hygiene for their students.
“Now more than ever, we want to show teachers just how much we appreciate their efforts to provide much-needed supplies and learning opportunities, especially during this incredibly challenging school year,” said Herb Kohl, a former Wisconsin senator and owner of the Bucks.
“We love our teachers, who continue to go above and beyond in caring for Wisconsin’s students. This school year has brought many challenges to teachers and students alike. In these 550 projects, we see persistence, adjustment and creativity. We hope this funding helps advance learning and brings a lot of joy to classrooms – both in person and virtually.”
Four hundred and twenty five Wisconsin teachers got emails today saying that their projects were funded. At the same time, Herb Kohl Philanthropiesl launched a matching campaign.
It will double all donations made to Wisconsin teachers’ requests for books, basic supplies and food, clothing and hygiene items for students.
“Teachers have faced innumerable challenges this year, and we so appreciate the generosity of Herb Kohl Philanthropies as they spread love to teachers across the state with this special surprise,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose. “We know this support will be greatly appreciated by the Wisconsin teachers who move mountains every day to keep students learning.”
Among the projects funded today are these three at Milwaukee Public Schools:
Townsend Street Elementary School third-grade teacher Rachel Roix’s request for a water dispenser and cups for students to have access to fresh water every day.
Lowell P. Goodrich Elementary School first-grade teacher Jacob Steeger’s “Keeping Virtual Learning Engaging!” project seeking resources to support online instruction and practice at home.
Manitoba School teacher Cheryle Verish’s project that aims to provide supplies to students learning at home. She’s hoping journals, pencils, sharpeners, math skill dry erase boards, dry erase markers and dry erase number lines and other items will help children focus and get their work done.
You can donate any amount to projects by going to donorschoose.org.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
