Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2005-08-25, Gov. Easley Encourages Citizens To Contribute To Donorschoose; Donations Could Earn $1 Million From Amazon.Com For Public School Students

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sara Parsons Date: Aug. 25, 2005 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO DONORSCHOOSE Donations Could Earn SI Million from Amazon.com for Public School Students RALEIGH — Gov. Mike Easley today encouraged North Carolinians to donate online to DonorsChoose to help the organization win the Amazon.com Nonprofit Innovation Award and earn up to $1 million for public school students in need. DonorsChoose, which made North Carolina its first ever expansion site, is a nonprofit marketplace on the internet where teachers and citizens connect to give students resources they need to learn. “North Carolina is a national leader in its mission to improve teacher quality,” said Easley. "We support DonorsChoose because it provides North Carolina teachers with tools they need to enhance their lessons and expand students’ learning experiences beyond textbooks and the classroom.” Amazon.com used a world-class panel of judges to select the 10 nonprofit finalists for the award to be featured on the Amazon.com website through Sept. 30. Anyone can vote for their favorite finalist by making contributions at www.amazon.com/nonprofitinnovation. Each of the finalist organizations will retain the contributions they receive, and the organization with the largest total dollar amount of donations will be awarded a matching grant of up to $1 million from Amazon and the 2005 Amazon.com Nonprofit Innovation Award. "Since DonorsChoose expanded to North Carolina in 2004, it has raised more than $545,000 for more than 45,000 students in need across our state,” said Easley. “All funds donated by North Carolinians at Amazon.com go straight to projects in North Carolina schools. We are proud our contributions also can help DonorsChoose earn up to $1 million to support creative student projects all over the U.S.” Launched in 2000, DonorsChoose allows teachers to submit proposals for any resource that would enhance their students’ learning. Proposals may include requests for books, art supplies, science equipment, computers or a variety of other materials. Individuals around the state and the country can review the proposals and choose to fund the ones they find most compelling. When a proposal is funded, DonorsChoose purchases the materials for the teacher and compiles photographs, student thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter and receipts for the donor. DonorsChoose was first launched in New York and has since expanded to North Carolina, Chicago and San Francisco. The organization is planning to open additional expansion sites in Los Angeles and South Carolina this fall. To date, DonorsChoose has channeled almost $4 million worth of books, supplies and other student resources to 200,000 students in low-income communities nationwide. For more information on DonorsChoose, visit www.donorschoose.org or contact the North Carolina office at 252/984-4011. Governor's Press Office State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166 ###