AdoptAClassroom.org, the award-winning national non-profit organization that helps teachers and students get the materials they need to learn and achieve in the classroom, is proud to announce its inaugural partnership with the national off-price retailer, Burlington Stores.
The two have combined forces this back-to-school season to launch a national point-of-sale campaign in all 599 Burlington stores nationwide to raise funds for classrooms in need across the country. Joining their efforts is Oscar winning actor and musical artist Common and his mother, a 35-year educator and Chicago Board of Education member, Dr. Mahalia Hines. Together, with their relentless passion and activism for education, the mother-and-son duo have worked with hundreds of students in Chicago to provide opportunities, resources and tools to help them become future leaders.
Ninety-one percent of K-12 teachers purchase classroom supplies out of their own pockets, spending on average $600 of their own money each year, with nearly twenty percent of teachers spending more than $1,000 annually. As a result of this campaign, Burlington hopes the funds raised will lessen this burden on teachers and help provide them with the support and classroom resources they need to do their job and make a real impact with students.
The fundraising effort launched July 9th at all 599 Burlington stores across the country, encouraging customers to donate $1 or more at checkout to support AdoptAClassroom.org. The back-to-school campaign will run through August 19, 2017. All funds raised will be disbursed to teachers this fall in communities where Burlington operates stores. Additionally, for each new store Burlington opens across the country this fall and next spring, they will adopt all teachers in a school within close proximity to the new store. This is yet another demonstration of Burlington’s on-going commitment to giving back where their associates and customers live and work.
Today, Common joined AdoptAClassroom.org and Burlington Stores to announce a surprise donation of $10,000 to adopt the Renaissance School of the Arts in Harlem, New York. Each teacher will receive funding from AdoptAClassroom.org towards school supplies such as Chromebooks, calculators, book sets and science kits, amongst a multitude of other items, so that their students have access to what they need to learn and prosper in the upcoming school year.
“Growing up, I watched how my Mother cared for her students, both as an educator and outside of the classroom. I realized very early just how important it is to have an adult in your corner, and for many kids that adult is often a teacher,” said Common. “I’m proud to support AdoptAClassroom.org and their partnership with Burlington to help provide classroom supplies to teachers and students in need.”
“At Burlington Stores, giving back is a part of our culture as a caring company and we know the importance of supporting teachers and their students. This back to school season, we are excited to partner with AdoptAClassroom.org to be able to provide the necessary funding so that teachers can get the supplies they need for their students to succeed,” said President, CEO and Chairman of Burlington Stores, Tom Kingsbury.
“We are thankful to Burlington and their millions of customers and thousands of associates nationwide for their support to help us further our mission. This initiative will help to fill the resource gap in classrooms across the country,” said Executive Director of AdoptAClassroom.org, Ann Ness. “We look forward to getting even more classroom materials into the hands of students through this meaningful partnership.”
We encourage customers to shop Burlington for all their back-to-school needs this summer and donate $1 or more at checkout now until August 19th to help support teachers and their students locally and nationwide.
For more information visit BurlingtonStores.com or AdoptAClassroom.org.
