KINGMAN —The Little Explorers Learning Center in north Kingman received a $2,182 donation by internet and television carrier Optimum on Wednesday, October 15. The donation was made through DonorsChoose—a national education nonprofit that matches the public with specific funding needs of teachers.
One Little Explorers project is Habitats and the Environment, which now has the funds to acquire a Hermit Crab Terrarium Habitat Kit, and a National Geographic Kids Ocean Life Six Box Set. The Preschool Makeover project included new toys for its preschool, as well as comfortable seating like bean bags and a new rug. Other Little Explorers projects included Writing for Reading Success, and STEM and a Fresh Start.
“I can’t wait to get these activities into the hands of my young citizens,” said Ms. Starkey, a Little Explorers teacher. “I know they will love hearing about and reading about different environments and the climates they come with.”
This is the fifth year in a row that Optimum has made donations of this kind in Mohave County, and it has donated $26,500 so far this season. Of those schools who received funding, Little Explorers Learning Center is the first school to receive their check presentation.
DonorsChoose was founded in 2000 by a teacher in the Bronx that wanted a way to allow the public to made donations to school teachers directly for needs they may have in the classroom. Optimum has funded several projects posted to DonorsChoose, including those at Little Explorers Learning Center.
Other schools in Mohave County to have projects paid for through DonorsChoose include Cerbat Elementary School, which received a Brooder Chicken and Quail & WIONBE Intelligent Brooder Box, which comes with 10-15 newborn chicks for its Garden Club project.
Hualapai Elementary School received $15,000 worth of new desks, and Manzanita Elementary School received student mailboxes to keep handouts, graded work, and important notes organized and accessible.
Lee Williams High School, Kingman High School, and White Cliffs Middle School have also had various projects funded by Optimum.
To learn more about projects at Mohave County schools, visit www.donorschoose.org.
