2nd Annual science education fundraiser LAUNCH!

Florida Citizens for Science News Release
Contact: Brandon Haught; bhaught@flascience.org
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FLORIDA SCIENCE EDUCATION NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Aug. 7, 2009 — Education budget woes felt throughout the state are preventing many teachers from obtaining necessary science equipment, thus crippling them at a time when a new set of science standards is demanding that they give students more in-depth science instruction. Florida Citizens for Science wants to lend a hand through its second annual fund raising campaign launched today.

Florida’s updated science standards introduced new units of study to the second grade, prompting a Jacksonville teacher to request materials needed to give students hands-on experience with the required concepts. Meanwhile, a fifth grade class in Bartow has books about simple machines, force and motion, but the teacher worries that her kids at the low income school don’t have the supplies that would make the science subjects come alive and be memorable. She is concerned about preparing her students for the science FCAT.

One Orlando sixth grade life science teacher wants to give kids hands-on experience in life science and chemistry, but says: “The supplies are very limited in my school and my resources are minimal.”
A third grade teacher in Mary Esther echoes that thought in her request for science supplies: “The resources in a project are so important, and each student needs to participate. With the economy the way it is, buying the resources you need is very limited.”

Florida Citizens for Science asks everyone who cares about science education across the state to pitch in. Through the nonprofit online organization DonorsChoose.org, we have identified seven Florida teachers who have asked for help in funding science education projects. We are asking concerned citizens to donate money to help these fundamental science projects become reality. Additionally, Florida Citizens for Science will match contributions dollar for dollar up to $600. So, if donators raise at least $600, we will double that to a total of $1,200. Of course, we encourage everyone to shoot past the $600 mark!

All donations are accepted and appreciated, regardless of the amount. Just visit our “giving page” at DonorsChoose to make your donation. The money raised stays right here in our state, benefiting our students’ science education. We hope to wrap up this fund raising project by Sept 1.

Some of the schools we hope to assist:

>> Pride Elementary School, Tampa
>> Chets Creek Elementary School, Jacksonville
>> Kate Sullivan Elem School, Tallahassee
>> Florosa Elementary School, Mary Esther
>> Lockhart Middle School, Orlando
>> Gibbons Street Elem School, Bartow
>> Ocean Palms Elementary School, Ponte Vedra Beach

Last year we exceeded our fund raising goal, giving $1,507 to seven schools. Let’s see if we can do that again! Here’s a series of blog posts about last year’s efforts, including some thank you notes we got from kids.

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