Staples and Lady Gaga Help San Francisco Teachers Create Positive Classroom Experiences
SAN FRANCISCO, 2017-Aug-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) announced today (Aug. 10, 2017) that all 133 projects posted on DonorsChoose.org in San Francisco received full funding as part of Staples’s $1 million donation to DonorsChoose.org, a charity that has funded more than 900,000 classroom projects for teachers and has positively affected more than 28 million U.S. students.
As part of the Staples for Students program, Staples together with Lady Gaga, continue to support education and promote positive classroom experiences across the country this back-to-school season. Staples funded the balance of every 133 projects listed on DonorsChoose.org in San Francisco. With a donation of $100,966, Staples impacted 92 teachers and more than 9,760 students in the community.
For example, Mr. Ellingston at Jose Ortega Elementary School will have the opportunity to take his students on a field trip to a 4-day outdoor science adventure.
“We’re so excited to be working with Lady Gaga, DonorsChoose.org and Born This Way Foundation to help U.S. teachers have what they need for a great school year,” said Michelle Bottomley, chief marketing officer, Staples. “Staples is a longtime supporter of education and, and we know there’s a burden placed on teachers to ensure that their classrooms are stocked with the materials and activities they need to spark kid’s learning. We are committed to supporting teachers through DonorsChoose.org and encourage others to fund a classroom project this year so teachers and kids go all-out in reaching their full potential or donate in one of our stores.”
Driven by an insight from the Education Market Association that an estimated 99.5 percent of all public school teachers use their own money to equip their classrooms, often at a cost of more than $400 per year, Staples takes great pride in helping to alleviate some of the pressure placed upon teachers.
“Staples has been a steadfast supporter of DonorsChoose.org for years, and we’re so thankful for its continued support,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. “Staples’s million-dollar donation to DonorsChoose.org ensures that hundreds of teachers, including many in San Francisco, will be able to bring learning to life for their students.”
Lady Gaga and Staples collaborated to create a public service announcement that is currently airing nationwide, further increasing visibility around the need to celebrate and support teachers and students. Earlier in the summer, Staples also donated $1 million to Born This Way Foundation, which Lady Gaga co-founded with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to support positive classroom experiences.
Those who wish to support teachers and students nationwide can make a donation either in Staples stores or online at www.StaplesForStudents.org.
Win a $50,000 Scholarship and a Trip to See Lady Gaga In Concert
Fans have the opportunity this summer to enter the Staples for Students Sweepstakes for a chance to win the grand prize: a $50,000 scholarship and a trip for two to Las Vegas to meet Lady Gaga and see her in concert, including roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations and spending money. Five first prize winners will also receive a trip for two to Las Vegasto see Lady Gaga in concert on December 16, 2017.
Visit StaplesForStudents.org for sweepstakes rules and to learn how to enter. Entries must be submitted before September 16, 2017 at 11:59 PM ET and entrants must be 13 years or older.
About Staples for Students
Staples, Inc. has a long history of supporting students, teachers and classrooms. Staples for Students is an ongoing program that helps students and teachers with the school supplies and essential items needed to achieve success in education. The Staples for Students campaign has included school supply drives, support for teachers in classrooms, donations for education projects, classroom initiatives such as Designed by Students, and the sale of products that give back to communities and classrooms in need.
About DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose.org is the leading platform for giving to public schools. Teachers across America use the site to create projects requesting resources their students need, and donors give to the projects that inspire them. Since its founding by a Bronx teacher in 2000, more than 2 million people and partners have given $547 million to projects reaching 22 million students. Unique among crowdfunding platforms, the DonorsChoose.org team vets each project request and ships resources directly to the school. Every donor receives photos of their project in action, thank-yous from the classroom, and a cost report showing how every dollar was spent. DonorsChoose.org was the first charity to make the top 10 on Fast Company’s list of the Most Innovative Companies in the World. Visit www.donorschoose.org to learn more.
About Born This Way Foundation
Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2012 to support the wellness of young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world. Born This Way Foundation achieves this by shining a light on real people, quality research, and authentic partnerships. Working with more than 50 non-profit organizations, Born This Way Foundation has connected more than 150,000 young people with services and programing in their communities. Born This Way Foundation has also partnered with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to collect data from more than 10,000 young people, improving understanding of the factors that affect youth wellbeing and empowerment. Visit us at bornthisway.foundation.org
Contact:
Kaitlyn Reardon
508-253-4195
Kaitlyn.Reardon@Staples.com
Carrie McElwee
508-253-1405
Carrie.McElwee@Staples.com
Source: Staples, Inc.