Google, Staples Fulfill Every Chicago Teacher's Classroom Dream On DonorsChoose.org

CHICAGO, Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that Google and Staples have fully funded every Chicago-based project on the education crowdfunding site DonorsChoose.org. As a result, 363 teachers will receive $383,868 worth of classroom supplies ranging from paper, pencils and books to laptops, musical instruments and microscopes.

"There is no greater investment we can make in the future of the City of Chicago than by investing in our children," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Our teachers enter the classroom each day to ensure their students live up to their full potential. Through their ongoing dedication and the resources provided by Google and Staples, our students will have increased access to the tools necessary to go to college and to build a successful career."

On DonorsChoose.org, teachers post projects requesting materials they need for their classrooms, and donors support the projects that inspire them. Among the projects funded this morning were a listening center for Ms. Everett's students, laptops and a 3D printer for Ms. Manata's students, and musical instruments for Mr. Dixon's students.

"Chicago's hardworking public school teachers are doing all that they can—and more—to support their students, but they need more help," said Rob Biederman, head of Chicago Public Affairs at Google. "We jumped at the chance to join with DonorsChoose.org and Staples to make Chicago's local classroom wishes come true."

"At Staples, we're excited to continue our long history of supporting teachers through our $1 million donation to DonorsChoose.org," said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of North American stores and online, Staples.  "We're proud to help make sure teachers have all the resources they need, whether it's essential supplies or materials for projects that enrich the learning experience."

"We're thrilled that two of our most generous partners could support Chicago's classrooms in such an incredible way," said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. "This group effort will ensure that Chicago teachers won't have to dig as deep into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies, and students will have the materials they need to start the school year right."

Google's donation comes several weeks after the company made similar flash funding donations to surprise and support schools in the San Francisco and Atlanta metro areas. In the past year, Google has also worked with DonorsChoose.org on other innovative grants, including a $5 million program to increase the number of traditionally underrepresented minority and female high school students that participate in Advanced Placement® (AP) courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines, and a national Made with Code initiative to inspire millions of girls to code.

Staples' donation is part of its #MakeRoarHappen program featuring Katy Perry. Staples has donated $1 million to DonorsChoose.org and conducted similar flash funding donations in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Manhattan, Boston and Philadelphia so far this summer totaling more than 600 projects, impacting almost 500 teachers and more than 56,000 students, plus Chicago.  As a presenting sponsor of the North American leg of the Katy Perry Prismatic World Tour, Staples is encouraging customers to support their local teachers through in-store donations and at http://www.makeroarhappen.com.

About Staples
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it's in-store, online or on mobile devices. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Staples also offers free shipping for Staples Rewards Members, in most cases overnight. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples (SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need.  At this nonprofit website, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created project requests and more than a million people have donated $246 million to projects that inspire them. All told, 11.6 million students—most from low-income communities, and many in disaster-stricken areas—have received books, art supplies, field trips, technology and other resources that they need to learn. 

Contact:
Christopher Pearsall
[email protected]
646-556-9955

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SOURCE DonorsChoose.org