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Three local organizations match grants for teachers to buy supplies and learning tools

Posted at 4:01 AM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-24 07:08:09-04

Due to cutbacks, many teachers are turning to crowdfunding to help buy school supplies and learning tools.

ImpactTulsa is offering a $75,000 match for teachers who raise money through the crowdfunding site donorschoose.org.

The organization, along with the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Schusterman Foundation and Advanced Chemical Research, has already helped fund 35 projects.

One of the recipients is second grade teacher Jana Simmons at Lanier Elementary School in Tulsa.

"With the cuts to the funding and art being eliminated, then teachers have to be more creative in how they still get art in the classroom," said Simmons.

Her project consists of pastel and oil colors, yarn and other materials that'll help students learn literacy through the arts.

"They'll be using their hands and these mediums to create something to story," said Simmons.

She said she spends hundreds of dollars out of pocket every year for her students, so the funds raised through donorschoose and the grant is helping her this year.

Last year, ImpactTulsa had $50,000 match and helped fund 299 projects, according to Amber Worten, the ImpactTulsa's Director of Partner Engagement.

Any pre-K through third grade teacher can apply for the grants, and the limit is $500.