VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Giving Tuesday is a day where people across the globe are asked to give generously to various organizations or movements.
This year, dozens of teachers in Hampton Roads have gone to the website, Donors Choose, essentially crowdsourcing the needs of their students.
Kevin Rickard, an Instructional Technology Specialist with Newtown Elementary School in Virginia Beach, has used this site before, and says it’s a way for teachers to help provide for their classrooms without spending a lot of their own money. On days like Giving Tuesday, donations are matched.
“If you’re really wanting to donate, these are the best times to donate is when there’s a match offer,” said Rickard, “because it’s going to double your impact and help that teacher out twice as much or three times as much.”
Anyone wanting to check out the various projects can log onto Donors Choose and type in their zip codes. A list of schools and projects will be listed. Some include headphones for virtual learning, art supplies, books, and other school supplies.
Teachers are encouraged to keep their projects under $500, because they’re more likely to have it funded. Rickard says individuals or businesses will sometimes fund the entire project which gives them a great sense of generosity, because they can see the project to completion.
There’s what’s called “Flash Funding,” meaning a company or individual may go in and fund all the projects for a school district. Rickard says that’s exactly what happened this morning when someone funded more than 100 projects for schools in Norfolk.
