The Mall in Columbia Lets Donors Choose
Now that students are officially back to school, it seems that the BTS festivities are about done. But our responsibility to the children in our community doesn’t end on Labor Day. The Mall in Columbia and more than one hundred other General Growth Properties malls are still hard at work ensuring the schools and teachers in their neighborhoods have the support they need.
From now until October 31, the center is partnering with DonorsChoose.org, a project that lets public school teachers reach out for the supplies and extras their classrooms badly need, and that lets others find the best ways to support local school children.
GGP is putting $300,000 in matching funds when shoppers donate, effectively doubling each shopper’s contribution. And it is a very personal contribution that shoppers are making. On arriving at the DonorsChoose.org website, visitors are presented with projects ranked by need, from the highest poverty areas to the lowest. They can search within their own communities or local schools and find the projects that will make a difference right at home.
“Through our partnership with General Growth Properties, we will reach thousands of people from communities all across the country and encourage them to help teachers who are dedicated to educating kids right in their neighborhood,” said Charles Best, CEO of DonorsChoose.org. “Tens of thousands of students from every corner of America will receive essential educational materials, art supplies, sports equipment and more to improve their learning experience because of the generosity of GGP.”
In October, The Mall in Columbia will hold a Celebrate Schools! event, inviting the community in to learn about local schools and get a taste of the great programs that could use their support. The center is currently reaching out to local schools to bring together art displays, performances and more to show off to families and shoppers alike.
GGP will also be giving away $20,000 to one center that’s nominated by a member of The Club, its loyalty program. The winner will be decided by a draw that will include every eligible, nominated school.
