Give Back Monthly Giveaway: NC New Schools Project
Give Back Monthly Giveaway!
As a thank you for keeping your Triangle Gives Back profile updated and engaging with users, each month we award a nonprofit organization with a $250 unrestricted donation
__________________________________________________________________
May 2011: NC New Schools Project
NC New Schools Project has been selected as the recipient of the May Give Back Giveaway. This organization has diligently updated their profile with news, events, and opportunities, and has promoted their TGB profile through social media. The TGB community can get involved with this organization by contributing to their cause. The organization hopes to continue scaling their work so that the vision of 100% graduation rate in all NC schools can be reached. Small and large donations are welcome and donations can be made to support quality teaching, principal leadership, general operating and professional development for teachers, principals, and superintendants.
The organization has also been in the news lately for their success in helping local schools obtain improved graduation rates. Here's part of a recent press release:
A group of 10 start-up high schools was launched four years ago with an ambitious goal: boost the achievement of students who would have otherwise attended high schools that a state judge had threatened to close because of low performance. Test scores were far below average; graduation rates were rock bottom.
This spring, those new schools are proving that a clear focus on teaching and learning, matched by high expectations for every student, can open opportunities for students who might have failed and dropped out under the kind of circumstances born of low expectations.
Instead, nearly every one of those small “turnaround “ schools – which all share a common focus on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM – are graduating at least 90 percent of the students who entered as the inaugural freshman class four years ago. That performance is significantly better than North Carolina’s statewide graduation rate in 2010 of 74.2 percent.
Nearly 500 students are graduating from the innovative schools, located in eight districts stretching from Winston-Salem in the west to Northampton County in the northeast. More than three quarters of the graduates plan to continue their education either at a four-year college or university or community college. The schools were developed through partnerships among local districts, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina New Schools Project, a public-private organization that works with school districts and schools statewide to transform secondary education to ensure all students graduate ready for college, careers and life.
The North Carolina New Schools Project is a statewide public-private partnership that
accelerates systemic, sustainable innovation in secondary schools across the state. NCNSP’s goal
is to ensure every student across North Carolina graduates ready for college, careers and life.
Read the rest of the article HERE.
April 2011: Philharmonic Association
In the true spirit of “giving back” the Philharmonic Association is thrilled that next season’s Artistic Staff for our Triangle Youth Orchestra will be comprised of two former members of our youth orchestra program. Coming full circle, with enthusiasm to give service to the program that helped instill their lifelong love of great music, Jake Wenger will join fellow alumni Tim Kohring as a conductor for the Triangle Youth Orchestra. Both played in the Triangle Youth Philharmonic in high school, went to college to get undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, and have returned to the area as teachers and performers. The Philharmonic Association will be celebrating 25 years in 2013 and a number of our alumni are now local teachers sending their students to our program. Kind of like having grandchildren! Jake is also a teacher for Community Music School of Raleigh, a non-profit offering low-cost music lessons to low-income students. Community Music School students are able to participate in the Philharmonic Association’s six youth music ensembles without charge.
Requests for financial aid have doubled since last season and 25 of our participants received need-based waivers or reductions of the participation fee this year. The Philharmonic Association has a growing need for resources to support our low-income participants. Sponsorship for one student for one year is $240.
March 2011: TABLE Ministries, Inc.
The Triangle Gives Back monthly Giveaway winner for March 2011 is TABLE Ministries, Inc. of Carrboro! This is a very critical time for TABLE, as they are currently working hard to gather resources for their summer program. This includes collecting food and recruiting volunteers (since they rely heavily on the UNC-student body as their volunteer-base, they struggle when UNC is not in session, particularly over the summer). Anyone interested in volunteering this summer can connect with TABLE by e-mailing info@tablenc.org.
TABLE is currently feeding over 90 local children with healthy non-perishables and local, farm-fresh produce (distributing nearly 3,000 lbs. of food each week). They hope to continue providing for over 90 kids in the same way for the summer of 2011 and need help to do it. The greatest food needs are listed below, along with drop-off hours:
Dry Pasta or Rice
Pasta Sauce (no glass jars please)
Raisins or Trail Mix
Pudding Cups
Canned Beans
Canned Tuna or Chicken
Low Fat Granola Bars
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Packaged Snacks
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Beef Stew
Canned Corn, Green Beans, or Carrots
Canned Spaghetti with Meatballs or Ravioli
Canned Fruit or Non-Perishable Fruit Cups
Noodle Dishes (mac & cheese; ramen noodles)
Juice Boxes (preferably 100% juice, multi-pack)
Non-Refrigerated Chocolate Milk Boxes
Food Drop-Off Hours: Mon – Fri 10am – 12pm and by appointment TABLE, Inc.
205 W. Weaver Street, Carrboro, NC 27510
919.636.4860
Learn more about TABLE on their TGB Profile and website.
February 2011: Triangle Family Services
Triangle Family Services has been selected as February’s winner for the Triangle Gives Back monthly Giveaway! Triangle Family Services is a 73-year-old agency that works to eliminate family violence, improve financial stability, and address the emotional health of individuals and families in need. In 2009, TFSNC helped more than 7,000 families overcome life's challenges by giving them the tools they needed to move away from crisis and into a more healthy and stable life. As of the most recent audited figures, the organization is proud to announce that 90% of donations and funds go directly to support client services and programs. That being said, Triangle Family Services’ greatest need is financial support as the demand for services in the community continues to grow. TriangleGivesBack.org users can get involved by volunteering and donating to the organization’s cause.
Learn more about TFSNC on their TGB Profile and on their website!
