Omni Brain

I like science and music so we want to help raise a boat load of money for education through Donors Choose. This is a great organization that...

is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter.

So help us reach our goal of $1000! Any amount of money is greatly appreciated and you can keep up with the donations on the handy cash-o-meter over there on the sidebar. Or you can come back to this post and click on this little widget:

We're particularly interested in helping charities in the sciences and music, like these:

This is only the second year of existence for our fine arts elementary school in a rural part of South Carolina. My string students are growing in numbers as well as in individual sizes leaving me in desperate need of instruments. I have over 50 students at the elementary school and most of them rent instruments. However, it is a financial hardship for many of their parents and I want all of the students here who want to learn to play violin, viola, cello or bass to have that opportunity. Our program here is unique in that students have the opportunity to study privately with me and we work in groups. The impact it would have on my students is immeasurable because it means that students whose parents cannot afford to pay for instruments may still participate. This is the only string program in our county. Right now I have 7 students whose parents are struggling to pay for the instrument their child has and soon the instruments may be repossessed. Please consider buying just these two instruments. The impact may be long lasting and dramatic. You may be buying the first instrument for a child who will grow up to be a music teacher.

The cost of a violin and a cello is $1,178, including shipping and fulfillment.

And this:

I am a second grade teacher that is helping to open a new school in North Charleston, SC. We are limited in Science resources and especially Science literature.

By teaching to the South Carolina standards, I must help the children understand magnetism. If the students can each hold their own magnet and explore by hands-on learning strategies, they will better comprehend the concept of magnetism. I would also love to give my students several literature resources in other areas of Science. This would allow them to explore, investigate, and further their reading enjoyment!!

This grant will help boost and foster my students love for Science! Too often is Science pushed to the back burner in education. I firmly believe that these resources will coincide with cross-curricular education and their love of learning.

My project needs at least 30 magnets and science literature resources. The cost of this proposal is $534, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment.

Please help us fund these teachers as well as many others!