Target, Ellen Grant $100,000 to Buchanan School

in West Bethlehem has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Target and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, district officials announced today.

Buchanan was one of 50 schools nationwide – and the only one in Pennsylvania – to receive a grant from the big box retailer. DeGeneres announced the grant program on her television show in November, asking her viewers to nominate schools by submitting to her a compelling story on why it should receive the grant.

A Buchanan teacher nominated her school for the grant award after seeing Ellen talk about it on her show, according to a district news release. Buchanan was selected after “an extensive review process,” the release said.

“This holiday season we’re partnering with Target to help award 50 schools with $100,000 grants to improve their schools; and we need help from so many people,” DeGeneres told viewers.

“If you know of an amazing, deserving school that could benefit from one of these grants let us know. It could change so many lives.”

The grant parameters allow recipients to use the funds in a variety of ways to improve the learning environment, including increased instructional time or the purchase of books, technology or other learning materials.

Buchanan plans to use the funds to implement a program called “Fit 2 Read and Write,” which will include some summer schooling and continue into this fall.

“Activities will include academic instruction, enrichment experiences, and fitness development,” according to the news release. “Materials and resources will be purchased that will support core and stretch learning, with additional focus on building leadership skills and increasing student engagement.”

The $5 million of total grants Target is currently distributing to schools nationwide is part of its commitment to contribute $1 billion to education by the end of 2015.