Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Teacher’s Desk (TTD)
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: TTD
Mailing Address: 22 Northampton Street
City: Buffalo
State: NY
Postal Code: 14209
Main Phone: 716-348-3412
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.theteachersdesk.org
Employer ID Number:
Organization Tax Status: 501 c3 nonprofit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: Novemver 1 2024
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Delivering Hope
Project Description:

In Delivering Hope, each week, we will deliver 12 filled shopping carts of high quality, age appropriate, basic, core school supplies, brand new books and personal care health/hygiene products (soap, shampoo, tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste) to schools in the Buffalo Public Schools District where 50% of youth live in poverty. We will provide tools to help low income students achieve success. We call this project Delivering Hope because it evens the playing field for students so they all have the proper resources that position them for success. The value of supplies and resources in the 12 shopping carts for each school is $12,000 per school. In a year, we provide $624,000 worth of school supplies.
This year, the average cost of school supplies was over $700— a 40% increase since 2019.
This project targets low income City of Buffalo students, 50% who live in poverty with families struggling to survive. They cannot access the appropriate resources and supplies for school because many parents can’t afford basic essentials like food and clothing, leaving youth at an academic advantage. Kids cannot receive a proper education without the right resources.
Research shows that students prepared for school achieve stronger outcomes. They benefit academically and psychologically; their performance and their self esteem are improved, facilitating better learning engaging youth in their learning, encouraging ongoing, lifelong learning.
In the past few years, we have also addressed new needs as we heard about hygiene issues from teachers. This plays a very important yet much overlooked role in education. 70% of teachers report hygiene poverty–from body odor to unbrushed teeth–has worsened since the pandemic. Hygiene poverty negatively affects childhood development, learning, social interaction and physical and mental health. Providing hygiene products improves physical and mental health, increases confidence/self-esteem and reduces bullying and skipping school.

Total Project Budget: 624000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Cullen Foundation $10,000 Received Ellis Foundation $12,000 Received 50 Fabulous Women $5,000 Committed Nordstrom Foundation $8,000 Pending Kelly For Kids Foundation $7,000 Pending

Project Duration: one year
Geographical Area Served: City of Buffalo, NY
Age Group To Be Served: Kindergarten through 12th grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: John
Contact Last Name: Mika
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 716-348-3412
Contact Email: tara.schafer@literacybuffalo.org