Park Street Businesses Adopt Local Classrooms
$1500 Distributed via the Alameda Education Foundation Adopt A Classroom Program
When customers shopped at Park Street businesses last October, they not only purchased crafts and home products or enjoyed food and beverages, they helped out Alameda classrooms thanks to the Park Street Business District’s “Shop for your Schools” fundraiser on October 22, 2013.
Park Street merchants collectively joined together to donate a portion of their sales that day with the goal of raising $1500 to benefit Alameda classrooms through the Alameda Education Foundation’s (AEF) Adopt A Classroom program. “We are proud to assist in the educational enrichment of Alameda students and support the teachers in their contributions to their classrooms,” said Stephanie Prothero, Marketing & Communications Manager of the Park Street Business Association. Prothero added that donating via the Foundation’s Adopt A Classroom program meant that 100% of the funds collected went directly to the classrooms.
On January 16, 2014 Foundation board president Bill Sonneman and Adopt A Classroom chair Kathie Woulfe, accompanied by representatives of the Park Street businesses, delivered $500 gift cards to three teachers at Maya Lin Elementary, Wood Middle, and Island High. The funds will help Maya Lin re-envision its media center, support an after school robotics program at Wood, and help a new teacher at Island High purchase classroom supplies and curriculum materials. ‘
“‘Open’ or undirected donations, such as those donated by Park Street businesses, enable us to support teachers most in need who may not have the same access to resources as teachers at more affluent schools,” explained Foundation President Bill Sonneman.
Participating businesses included: Alameda Natural Grocery, Artistic Home Studio & Boutique, Bead Inspirations, Daisy’s, Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, Park Jewelers, Tucker’s Ice Cream, and We Are Hair.
More information about the Adopt A Classroom program may be found here.
Information about Park Street businesses and special events may be found
at www.ShopParkStreet.com.
Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Prothero. Pictured left to right: AEF President Bill
Sonneman, Donna Layburn (Alameda Natural Grocery), Island High Teacher Katy
Zugg, Randy Tully (Alameda Natural Grocery)