Make Today a Better Day for a Teacher in Northern Virginia

First, let’s get the details out of the way:

October 1, 2009

zpizza in South Riding

4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Details – http://adaymadebettervirginia.eventbrite.com/
(directions, etc., registration not necessary)

Bring a school supply donation.

Nominate a teacher to win all the donated supplies + a $75 gift card to Office Max.

We will have door prizes donated by Office Max.

Now, the Why!

Education Facts

• Fifty percent of teachers leave the profession within the first five years;
• Each time a teacher leaves the education system, the cost is approximately $11,500 to recruit, hire, and provide orientation and professional development for the replacement.
• Teachers cite a lack of support as the top reason for leaving the education profession.
• Education is one of the “top ten most important problems” facing the United States (Gallup Poll, 2007)

What is “A Day Made Better?”

“A Day Made Better” is a national cause founded by OfficeMax and nonprofit organization, Adopt-A-Classroom, to lead the fight to end teacher-funded classrooms.

Why is OfficeMax doing this?

“A Day Made Better” was founded in response to the fact that teachers are now spending on average $1200 out-of-pocket for necessary classroom supplies – collectively nearly $4 billion annually – to offset budget shortfalls, according to a 2005 survey by the National Education Association. Striving to erase teacher-funded classrooms, OfficeMax and Adopt-A-Classroom are working together to create awareness and generate widespread support for teachers nationwide.

How can I help locally?

Attend the “A Day Made Better” charity event in South Riding on Oct 1, 2009. Bring along a school supply donation to add to the Office Max Box. Nominate an outstanding teacher in your area. We will be giving ONE nominated teacher all the supplies plus a $75 gift card to Office Max. While you are at zpizza, pick up dinner for your family and meet some of your neighbors. You get a night off from cooking and help a good cause all at once. (List of possible items for donation.)

If you are not able to attend, you may make a cash donation on the chip-in widget right here.

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Is there anything else I can do to help?

To show support for “A Day Made Better,” the public is invited to do the following:

• Join the Facebook Cause page at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/116541
• Follow the cause on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adaymadebetter
• Learn more about the cause at www.ADayMadeBetter.com
• Adopt a local teacher through www.AdoptAClassroom.org
• Purchase an oversized paperclip magnet at OfficeMax stores, which benefits the OfficeMax Charitable Foundation’s program supporting K-12 public school teachers.