Santa Barbara area teachers welcomed students back to their classroom in the fall with more than $62,000 raised by the local nonprofit Teacher’s Fund.
The annual Back-to-School Drive was especially significant as teachers were able to buy new tools and learning materials to equip their classrooms for students making the transition back to in-person learning.
Community members and local businesses answered the calls for help, driving the donation total beyond the goal of $60,000.
Donors also sponsored individual instructor’s requests to make their teachings richer through specialty art, language and math subscriptions; more comfortable, with adjustable work benches and classroom rugs; and adaptable for new indoor-outdoor learning environments.
“I’m thrilled students are back in the classroom, alongside friends and the rest of the school community where they learn best and have strong in-person support,” said Brianna Johnson, Village Properties Realtor and event co-chair, who had the idea for the first drive back in 2019.
“And I’m so appreciative to businesses and community members who are helping ensure students have what it takes to help make that transition as successfully as possible,” she said.
Renee Grubb, owner of Village Properties Realtors and founder of the Teacher’s Fund, said the community’s generosity never ceases to amaze her. She praised the committee: Johnson, Amy Abbott, Sheela Hunt, Angel Speier, Dianne Johnson, Candace Cavaletto, Alyssa Jones, Ivonne Arroyo, and Leanne Wood.
“It’s a team effort, and this team works so hard to make sure as many classrooms as possible get badly needed support,” Grubb said.
All money raised from the fundraiser goes directly to local kindergarten-through-12th-grade teachers to help them buy educational materials that enhance their students’ learning.
The Teacher’s Fund was created in 2002 by the owners of Village Properties as a way for teachers to request supplies needed for their classrooms. Since then, the Teacher’s Fund has donated $1.8 million to Santa Barbara-area schools, with 100 percent of the funds raised given directly to teachers.
Learn more about the Teacher’s Fund at https://teachersfund.org/. For more about Village Properties, visit https://www.villagesite.com/.