OfficeMax Honors Teachers
Posted on Oct 5, 2010 04:54:52 PM
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What is “A Day Made Better?”
“A Day Made Better” is a national cause event founded by OfficeMax to benefit its nonprofit partner Adopt-A-Classroom and to call attention to the issue of teachers having to pay for their own classroom supplies. Annually in October, 30,000 OfficeMax associates surprise and honor more than 1,000 teachers at Title 1 schools around the country with a total of $1,000,000 worth of classroom supplies – $1,000 per classroom. Nominated by their principals, teacher recipients receive this honor for their exceptional contributions and going above-and-beyond as an educator. The name, “A Day Made Better,” is derived from the concept that OfficeMax and Adopt-A-Classroom can make at least one day better for teachers by providing them with essential classroom supplies – so they don’t have to. By facilitating 1,000 simultaneous teacher surprise events – all on one day – OfficeMax believes this action will attract public attention to the problem of teacher out-of-pocket spending and motivate the public to help teachers by adopting them through Adopt-A-Classroom.
Why are OfficeMax and Adopt-A-Classroom doing this?
Did you know that every year teachers spend nearly $1000 of their own money on school supplies? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Most people are not aware of this issue because it has been the norm for years. Unfortunately, recent school budget shortfalls are requiring teachers to provide more supplies for their classrooms to make up the difference. And their salaries have little room for growth. According to PayScale, experienced elementary school teachers make an average of $40,456 per year while middle and high school teachers make slightly more at $42,506 and $43,324 respectively. Yet new teachers entering the field make an average of $34,488, but due to poor working conditions and low salaries, more than half of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years, according to National Education Association. Thus, teachers will continue to be in high demand over the next ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Impact has “A Day Made Better” Made on Schools?
First conducted in October 2007, the cause has since funded over 3,500 teachers and their classrooms and helped attract donations for more than 10,000 classrooms through Adopt-A-Classroom. In addition, more than thirty celebrities including Selena Gomez, James Denton, Cynthia Nixon and Sigourney Weaver have shown their support for the cause and helped attract media headlines encouraging support for teachers and schools across the country.
School Surprise Events
OfficeMax works with school principals across the country to select deserving teachers to receive this award and classroom gift. Once confirmed, OfficeMax associates from a local store volunteer to deliver the surprise, create the teacher award, and collect the classroom supplies for the winning teacher. On the day of the surprise, the associates arrive at the selected school to meet the principal, and together, they enter the teacher’s classroom to deliver the “A Day Made Better” surprise, presenting the teacher with an award and $1000 in classroom supplies donated by OfficeMax.
Teacher Selection Process
Working with Adopt-A-Classroom, OfficeMax recognizes over 1,000 teachers each year for going above and beyond in the classroom. School principals can nominate a teacher through Adopt-A-Classroom for demonstrating 1) passion for teaching, 2) innovation in the classroom; and 3) dedication to the profession and the success of their students. A majority of the selected schools are Title I schools, defined as an “in-need school” with 40 percent (40%) or more of its student body on the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program.
Classroom Gift
Each classroom gift includes a digital camera, printer, swivel chair, and large box containing essential classroom supplies – a total donation valued at $1,000 per classroom. To identify the classroom supplies needed by teachers, OfficeMax conducted research, surveying teachers and school administration on their greatest classroom needs, and these items were included in the classroom gift. View the product donation at adaymadebetter.com/productgiftsheet.htm.
Education Facts – “National Teaching Realities Survey” (April 2010)
- Willing to Go the Distance – 97 percent of teachers will do whatever it takes to create an effective learning environment – even if it means paying out-of-pocket.
- The Right Stuff – Close to seven in ten (69%) educators say that having the right tools in the classroom is essential for their own success as teachers.
- Classrooms Are Lacking – However, as school budgets shrink, seven in ten (70%) teachers report their schools are not able to provide them with all the necessary tools to effectively teach their students.
- Selflessly Devoted – A majority (82%) of teachers think it is their responsibility to ensure students have the best learning experience possible – no matter the price tag – spending an average of $623 of their own money on supplies for their students each year.
- Parents Can Help – Teachers say parents can make a difference by attending more school board meetings to speak out on their behalf (69%), donating school supplies to their classroom (68%) and helping organize fundraisers to raise money for supplies (60%).
How You Can Help
Show your support for “A Day Made Better” by:
- Adopting a teacher through AdoptAClassroom.org
- Learning more about the cause at ADayMadeBetter.com
- Posting a comment on the cause blog at ADayMadeBetterBlog.com
- Following the cause on Twitter at Twitter.com/adaymadebetter
- Spread word about the cause through the “Good Works” tab at Facebook.com/OfficeMax
Adopt-A-Classroom Affiliation
Adopt-A-Classroom (AAC) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit national organization that harnesses the resources of the community and web to enrich the classroom experience and increase the chances for teachers and students to succeed. AAC connects individual donors with specific teachers and classrooms throughout the country. One hundred percent of the donation goes directly to the teacher for purchasing the resources necessary to meet student needs. Donors receive personal feedback from the teacher and students as well as Impact Reports that detail exactly what the teacher purchased, offering full accountability and transparency. Celebrating ten years, AAC has impacted one million students by helping fund more than 30,000 teachers and their classrooms.
About OfficeMax’s Teacher-Support Programs
In addition to “A Day Made Better,” OfficeMax offers other teacher-support programs such as its MaxPerks® for Teachers loyalty rewards program, annual Educator Appreciation events at its retail stores and MaxPerks Recycling program for teacher and school fundraising efforts.
About OfficeMax
OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office equipment. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and office furniture to businesses and individual consumers. OfficeMax customers are served by more than 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and approximately 1,000 stores. For more information, visit OfficeMax.com.
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