TAMIU, Laredo Learns Ask Community to Help Fund Area Teachers’ Classroom Projects
With the Pandemic and recent winter storm, teachers and students have faced the toughest teaching and learning challenges in a generation.
To thank Laredo teachers for their unwavering commitment to students, Laredo Learns, a collaboration that includes Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and local businesses and individuals, is participating in the #TeachersCan/DonorsChoose Classroom Wishes matching campaign to help fund much-needed classroom projects in Laredo, and throughout Texas.
Throughout Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2 - 8, the funds raised by Laredo Learns will be matched by #TeachersCan and Donors Choose — dollar-for-dollar — up to $25,000, doubling the impact of contributions for a total of $50,000 being invested directly into Laredo classrooms. Laredo Learns has already raised a total of $30,000.
Contributions of any size are welcome and can help the Laredo community make a huge impact for area teachers and students. Donors can find the list of Laredo Learns-matched teacher requests at: https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?matchingId=2130
Laredo teachers still have until Friday, May 7 to upload their classroom requests to DonorsChoose to be considered eligible for the match at: https://www.donorschoose.org/teachers
Dr. James O’Meara, Texas A&M International University College of Education dean, said that while the need for classroom resources is always high, the impact of COVID-19 and the learning loss resulting from the Pandemic have exacerbated the need for more support for teachers and students.
Laredo is a learning city blessed with effective and committed teachers who change the lives of the children of Laredo every day, O’Meara added.
“In a year when the COVID-19 Pandemic challenged educators across America, Laredo teachers ensured every student had the resources they needed to pivot to a virtual environment,” he said, “TAMIU’s College of Education supported the #TeachersCan fundraising initiative to thank our teachers and provide them with the funding they need to address the learning losses resulting from learners being away from their classrooms.”
The #TeachersCan/Donors Choose Classroom Wishes matching grant campaign will help fund up to $1.5 million worth of classroom projects for educators across Texas.
Laredo Learns is a local partnership between TAMIU, Southern Distributing, Laurel Insurance Agency and Associates, Fundraising Academy @ Texas A&M University, International Bank of Commerce, Falcon International Bank, Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust, and Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Peters.
About #TEACHERSCAN:
#TeachersCan is a statewide movement led by teachers and supported by more than 125 partnering businesses and organizations committed to elevating the teaching profession.
About DONORSCHOOSE:
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, more than 4.7 million people and partners have contributed $1 billion to support 1.9 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences in Texas and across the country. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org.
For more information about TAMIU’s partnership with Laredo Learns, please contact Dr. O’Meara at 956.326.2680, or email james.omeara@tamiu.edu
