Carpenter Community Charter Comes Into a Windfall Through the Wasserman Foundation

Also by Mary Fortuna Kuser

r is just one of many LAUSD schools to recently receive a gift they never expected. Thanks to the generosity of the private charity, The Wasserman Foundation, with a huge assist from Starbucks, all LAUSD students received a gift card in February worth $10-$15 to spend on whatever their teacher deemed necessary in their classroom. Over the past few weeks, Carpenter classes have received new supplies, materials and technology.

The gift cards were applied through charity website, DonorsChoose where teachers around the country can post items their classroom needs and anyone can log on to donate money towards the classroom of their choice. Demonstrating the power of community collaboration, Carpenter’s faculty members posted 77 classroom projects on the website while Carpenter parents used their gift cards to fund these requests. From supplies for hatching baby chickens in science class to new laptops in 5^th grade to Kindergarten listening centers, 67 projects have been funded at this time, worth a value of more than $26,500.

“ This is a groundbreaking new way to raise money, and folks in the world of fundraising are betting that it’s going to be a trend,” says Mary Odson, president of Parents for Carpenter and a member of the Governance Council’s Grant Writing committee. “With budgets and payrolls shrinking, companies and foundations will find strategies like DonorsChoose provide economy, efficiency and transparency,” she adds. “And it puts the power of choice into the hands of the donor. People feel really invested in their donations when they can decide how the money is spent.”

Many parents and community members went beyond the Wasserman gift cards and donated their own money. Friends, extended family members, and even a few concerned citizens from out of state all contributed to the program. The messages that donors left on the website with their donations were heartwarming.

"I gave because we love the teachers at Carpenter and we're grateful that we attend such a good school,” wrote Beth Miller, a parent. The teachers were equally enthusiastic in their responses.

"I truly can't thank all of you enough for your generous donations to my classroom,” said Mrs. Finkelstein. “The Thesauruses that you donated have helped my students every single day.”

The Wasserman Foundation's program to fund LAUSD school projects consists of a donation of $2 million in gift cards and $2 million in matching funds for cash donations - a total of $4 million over a 2 year period. Although the Wasserman Foundation’s gift card program ended February 16^th, the Carpenter Governance Council’s Grant Writing Committee has recommended that DonorsChoose become part of Carpenter’s overall fundraising plan, and the committee will review exactly what part it should play in the future.