BCBSNC Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant to DonorsChooseNC

Chapel Hill, NC – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC Foundation) today announced a $25,000 grant for physical activity projects in North Carolina to DonorsChooseSM (www.donorschoose.org), an online marketplace that allows individuals and businesses to support specific student projects proposed by teachers.

"We are delighted to partner with such an innovative organization to increase opportunities for physical activity in North Carolina schools. Teachers are incredibly creative and resourceful, and have firsthand knowledge of the kinds of projects that would be most meaningful for their students," said Kathy Higgins, vice president of the BCBSNC Foundation. "We look forward to hearing their ideas."

North Carolina teachers are encouraged to propose projects that integrate physical activity with academics. For example, teachers can apply for funding for an Active Steps Youth Kit, (www.beactivenc.org) which uses pedometers to help students set physical activity goals while teaching them about geography, math, history and other subjects. Priority is given to such projects over funding playground and athletic equipment.

"The generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations like the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation makes a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of children across North Carolina. The $25,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation will support more than 80 projects proposed by North Carolina's most dedicated public school teachers, impacting the lives of more than 2,000 students," explained Missy Sherburne, North Carolina DonorsChoose executive director.

In mid-July, Amazon.com named DonorsChoose.org as one of the ten most innovative nonprofits in the world. This international search to find the nonprofits whose innovative approaches and breakthrough solutions most effectively improve their community or the world at large drew 1,000 applicants. Of the ten finalists, the charity that receives the most donations at www.amazon.com/nonprofitinnovation before September 30, 2005, will also be awarded up to $1 million in matching funds by Amazon.com.

Since its inception in North Carolina, DonorsChooseNC has distributed $545,312 to projects reaching 45,227 students, preschool to high school. Most of these students come from low-income communities, as defined by the percentage of students eligible for free lunch. A total of 3,290 project proposals have been received from 1,578 teachers at 734 North Carolina public schools.

This year, DonorsChooseNC contributions have funded $234,098 worth of resources to provide 64,880 hours of instruction and homework to public schools. The donations fund books, classroom supplies, technology, field trips and other resources. Most materials are reusable for future classes.

About DonorsChooseNC
DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit Web site, teachers submit ideas for materials or experiences that their students need to learn, such as "Magical Math Centers" ($200), "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), and "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search student projects by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project she/he finds most compelling. Donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter, and an expenditure report showing that their tax-deductible gift was spent as directed. The strength of the DonorsChoose model has been recognized by The New York Times, Oprah, NPR and others.

The DonorsChoose mission is to improve public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific student projects. We envision a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.