With 700,000 students, Los Angeles has the second largest public school system in the country. Yet only 55 percent of students in LA graduate from high school on time and many do not graduate at all. It should not be surprising, then, that many of our local youth grow up and face a life of underemployment and unemployment.
In many cases, our schools lack basic supplies like copy paper, calculators, and desks. The buildings are absent of libraries, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Students aren’t afforded “luxuries” like field trips, athletic programs, visual and performing arts, or other much-needed enrichment opportunities.
It is for these reasons and more that we at ZipRecruiter decided to give $10,000 to educational projects on DonorsChoose.org. For those who aren’t familiar with the site, DonorsChoose.org provides a platform for teachers to request funding for various educational projects, after which donors can contribute any amount toward the project(s) of their choosing.
I was lucky enough yesterday to spend hours sifting through thousands of active projects in Los Angeles. After much consideration we completed funding for nearly 20 projects — projects which will reach more than 2,000 students this year alone. Ranging from field trips to PE equipment to math manipulatives for kindergartners with special needs, each project serves an extremely worthy cause.
Aside from helping to provide the youth of Los Angeles with the educational experience they deserve, we hope our contribution will help them on their way to the future they deserve.
This holiday season, whether you’re an individual, a member of a large corporation, or a founder at a small startup, we encourage you to join us in building the future.
