Pennies for Education raises $800 in first year
LAKEPORT — The concept was simple, according to Lakeport businesswoman Anna Girod: “Just collecting loose change, we can solve some educational funding problems.”
From that thought, Pennies for Education was born.
The program, spearheaded by Girod through the Lakeport Rotary Club, allows teachers to ask for funds accumulated from money placed in jars at several city businesses and Rotary meetings.
A committee reviews the requests and awards various amounts for “anything the teachers would go into their own pocket to get” such as classroom projects or extra supplies, Girod said.
Pennies for Education began last April and citizens donated almost $800 during the first year, according to Girod.
Currently, program funding is available only to Lakeport Elementary School (LES) teachers.
“Ms. Girod”s and Rotary”s commitment to education should be commended,” LES Principal Anita Swanson said.
“Because education has taken so many cuts over the last few years, she realizes that teachers are spending more and more money out of their pockets. Ms. Girod has been able to reimburse the teachers for supplies that they might not receive otherwise,” Swanson added.
Pennies for Education does not hold major fundraisers, relying solely on money collected in the containers.
Jar locations include AGM Property Management and Hillside Honda.
“I cannot say enough about the teachers and about the extra monies they spend out of their wallets so as to make things a little more special for the younger students in their classes,” Barbara Breunig, of Hillside Honda, said.
Girod hopes to expand the program to more businesses, other Rotary Clubs and civic groups in the future. “I would like to see it grow into something bigger,” she said.
For now, she encourages residents to put coins in the available jars. “We”ll count them and we”ll roll them,” Girod said.
The funds are picked up monthly and deposited into an account at Umpqua Bank, she added.
For more information, contact Girod at anna@agmpm.com.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37. Follow on Twitter: @JeremyDWalsh.
