NEW YORK and GREENVILLE,
S.C., May 7, 2015
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stephen
Colbert announced today that he has partnered with Share
Fair Nation and ScanSource to fund every classroom project in
South Carolina on
DonorsChoose.org. Together, the three contributions will fund
nearly 1,000 projects for more than 800 teachers at over 375
schools, totaling $800,000. Colbert,
a South Carolina native, announced
the funding at a conference in New
York hosted by DonorsChoose.org, a crowdfunding non-profit
where teachers create projects requesting materials and experiences
their students need to learn, and donors support the projects that
inspire them.
"I'm so excited to announce we are funding all 1,000
South Carolina projects on
DonorsChoose.org today," said Colbert. "DonorsChoose.org makes it
so easy to have an impact and connect directly with the teachers
and students you're helping."
Damon Qualls, a teacher at
Alexander Elementary School in Greenville, SC, joined Colbert for the
surprise announcement in New York.
Qualls has had 126 projects funded on DonorsChoose.org, including
five projects from today's announcement.
"I was completely shocked," said Qualls after the surprise
announcement. "This means so much to the teachers and students in
South Carolina. What you've done
by funding these projects will make such a difference in the
classroom."
After the surprise announcement, Colbert joined a Google Hangout
video conference with Qualls' school, where students, teachers,
administrators, several local officials, and the State
Superintendent of Education expressed their gratitude for the
funding.
"I commend Stephen, Share Fair Nation, and Greenville's own ScanSource for the support
that they have given the dedicated and hardworking teachers of
South Carolina through this
gracious gift. I know these teachers will use it in a way that
improves the quality of education for South Carolina's students," said Molly Spearman, State Superintendent of
Education.
Colbert, a member of the DonorsChoose.org Board of Directors,
raised the funds for South
Carolina classrooms by auctioning off his desk and set
pieces after The Colbert Report ended in December. He was
joined by Share Fair Nation, an initiative created by The Morgridge
Family Foundation, and Greenville-based ScanSource.
"The team at Share Fair Nation and The Morgridge Family
Foundation is thrilled to celebrate our South Carolina teachers and the immeasurable
impact they have on the lives of students," said Carrie Morgridge. "We are so proud to partner
with DonorsChoose.org, Steven
Colbert and ScanSource to make some dreams come true today!
An investment in a teacher is an investment in our
future. Join us, because every gift matters!"
"ScanSource was so pleased to bring DonorsChoose.org to
South Carolina in 2005, and we're
thrilled to continue our support a decade later," said Christy Thompson, vice president of worldwide
marketing at ScanSource. "Since 2005, DonorsChoose.org has helped
fund 13,000 South Carolina
projects, investing over $5.6 million
in teachers and students across the state. Education funding has
never been more critical to the future of South Carolina, and ScanSource is proud to
help classrooms in need."
"We're so grateful that Stephen, Share Fair Nation, and
ScanSource could help the teachers of South Carolina in such a big and magical way
today," said Charles Best, founder
& CEO of DonorsChoose.org.
About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000,
DonorsChoose.org makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in
need. At this nonprofit website, teachers at 64% of all the public
schools in America have created project requests, and more than 1.7
million people have donated $323
million to projects that inspire them. All told, 14 million
students—most from low-income communities, and many in
disaster-stricken areas—have received books, art supplies, field
trips, technology, and other resources that they need to learn.
About The Morgridge Family Foundation
The Morgridge
Family Foundation is a private family foundation that
invests in the transformation of education for both students
and educators. A leader in educational philanthropy throughout
the nation, the Morgridge Family Foundation supports
educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM), environmental stewardship,
broadband access, educational inclusion for hospitalized children,
innovative instructional practices and educator
development. While The Morgridge Family Foundation does not
accept unsolicited grant proposals, news regarding innovative
projects in education can be sent to
mff@foundationsource.com. Visit The Morgridge Family
Foundation on the Web at
online.foundationsource.com/public/home/morgridge.
About ScanSource, Inc.
ScanSource, Inc.
(NASDAQ: SCSC) is the leading international value-added distributor
(VAD) of specialty technology products, focusing on point-of-sale
(POS) and barcode, communications and physical security solutions.
ScanSource's teams provide value-added services and operate from
two technology segments, Worldwide Barcode & Security and
Worldwide Communications & Services. ScanSource is committed to
helping its reseller customers choose, configure, and deliver the
industry's best products across almost every vertical market in
North America, Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1992, the Company ranks
#751 on the Fortune 1000. For more information, visit
http://www.scansource.com.
CONTACT: Chris Pearsall,
media@donorschoose.org
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SOURCE DonorsChoose.org