Santa Barbara-area teachers welcoming students back to their classroom this fall will do so buoyed by more than $62,000 raised by the local nonprofit Teacher’s Fund.
This year’s annual Back-to-School Drive was especially meaningful as teachers bought new tools, learning materials and otherwise equipped 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 teachers’ requests for enriching their curriculums through specialty art, language and math subscriptions; making their learning spaces more comfortable with adjustable work benches and classroom rugs; and adapting 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 Village Properties Realtor Brianna Johnson, event co-chair, who had the idea for the first drive 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 generosity of the community never ceases to amaze her.
Grubb praised the tireless effort of the full 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,” she said.
All money brought in 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 much needed supplies 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 for their classrooms.
For more information about Teacher’s Fund visit https://teachersfund.org/. For about Village Properties visit https://www.villagesite.com/.