People's United Community Foundation Donates $100,000 In Honor Of Teacher Appreciation Week

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- People's United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People's United Bank, announced that it has awarded a $100,000 grant to DonorsChoose.org, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2013.

Many school districts are operating under budget constraints. Teachers who must seek alternate funding sources to obtain essential school supplies and improve classroom learning environments are finding help through DonorsChoose.org. A unique charity created to support public school students and teachers, DonorsChoose.org provides educators with an online venue to submit requests describing much-needed projects for their students. Donors can then browse the projects and choose those they would like to support.

People's United Community Foundation has joined DonorsChoose.org for the third year as a "Double Your Impact" matching program partner in support of initiatives in districts that serve low-to moderate-income students. The grant will provide 50% matching funds for classroom projects that meet the foundation's criteria throughout Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The grant will be allocated towards eligible classroom projects on a first-come, first-served basis, until the $100,000 is exhausted.

"DonorsChoose.org is connecting us with teachers so that we can help them obtain the classroom resources they need," said Vincent Santilli, Executive Director of People's United Community Foundation "It's also providing a way for teachers to be creative in their efforts to engage students, which in turn is helping to improve academic success. We applaud all teachers for their hard work in helping our children thrive, as we celebrate and honor them during teacher appreciation week."

You can help People's United Community Foundation in this effort to double its impact and bring worthy educational initiatives to life. Log on to the People's United Campaign Page on the DonorsChoose.org website and make a difference in a classroom that qualifies for the foundation's match offer.

"We're excited that People's United Community Foundation has committed to a third year of supporting public schools within their expanding footprint," said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. "This campaign will help hundreds of teachers acquire the materials and resources their students need in the classroom."

About the People's United Community Foundation
Established in 2007, People's United Community Foundation was formed to help support programs and activities that enhance the quality of life for citizens in the communities that People's United Bank serves. People's United Bank, founded in 1842 and serving customers from New York to Maine through a network of 417 branches, is the largest independent bank headquartered in New England. The Foundation places special emphasis on programs designed to promote economic self-sufficiency, education and improved conditions for low-income families and neighborhoods. The funding priorities of the Foundation include community development, youth development, and affordable housing.

About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.  Public school teachers from every corner of America post requests, and individuals can give directly to the ones that inspire them. To date, 145,000 public and charter school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org to secure $177 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.

SOURCE People's United Community Foundation