No, not that kind of Surge – a funding surge for the First Annual Claire Danes/Apple/Cult of Mac Back to School Computer Challenge at Donors Choose (around these here parts, we call the FACD/A/CoMBtSCC).
In just today, you guys raised $1,000 toward our ultimate goal of $15,000 to buy Macs and other Apple products at underprivileged public schools across the country. We're closest on the Computers For Harlem Students in Special Education project, sitting at 80 percent right now. I believe in your ability to get the rest of the way there soon.
I wanted to talk a bit more about why this project, why Claire Danes, and why now. I'll start last: It took a bit longer to set this up than we anticipated, which is why the school year has already begun.
Why this challenge? I believe in Donors Choose very much. It's an organization with a very low overhead – 15 percent of all donations go to operations. In an era where many charitable organizations trend toward 50 percent, that's really something. Contributions go directly toward funding the projects for which there is no money at most public schools. As funding has been slashed further and further, there isn't the money for music programs, computer education or sports in many districts. This allows teachers to express their real needs and us to meet them.
As for Claire Danes? She's working with Donors Choose on a broad level and decided to pool her resources to help get some kids some Macs. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for listening. You guys are the best.
