Equitable Helps Educators Equip Students with Remote Learning Resources through DonorsChoose Keep Kids Learning Program
Equitable Foundation commits $1 million to COVID-19 relief programs
April 8, 2020
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NEW YORK – April 8, 2020 – Equitable, a leading financial services company and subsidiary of Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH), today announced Equitable Foundation is committing $1 million to COVID-19 relief efforts, including $500,000 to Keep Kids Learning, a new program from DonorsChoose.
The Keep Kids Learning program enables teachers to send personalized educational care packages – ranging from shelf-stable groceries to crayons and building blocks – to their students’ homes to help facilitate remote learning.
The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the need for resources which allow educators to reach and support their students. A recent survey of 4,000 educators in underserved communities by DonorsChoose found:
- 68% of students lack sufficient resources at home to continue learning
- 97% of teachers are worried COVID-19 will negatively impact their students’ learning
- 92% of teachers do not have the resources they need to run a remote learning program
“Students across the country are cut off from their teachers and classroom materials, and students’ home circumstances will affect learning to an even greater degree,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose. “As coronavirus threatens to widen education inequality, our mission is more vital than ever. We’re grateful for the generosity of Equitable Foundation, which will allow us to help teachers keep their students learning.”
For more than 40 years, Equitable has helped educators achieve financial well-being. Today, the company is privileged to serve nearly 800,000 educators in the K-12 public school market.
“We are inspired and humbled by the educators across our country who have found new ways to reach, support and engage students, despite this very challenging environment,” said Steve Scanlon, Head of Group Retirement at Equitable. “Equitable is proud to be a founding partner of Keep Kids Learning and do our small part to help students, teachers and our communities continue to learn and grow.”
In addition to DonorsChoose, Equitable Foundation has also pledged $500,000 to several organizations providing support to those impacted by COVID-19, including:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CMS Foundation (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), Charlotte, N.C.
- Feeding America
- Food Bank of Central New York, Syracuse, N.Y.
- God’s Love We Deliver, New York, N.Y.
- Jersey Cares, Livingston, N.J.
- Samaritan Center, Syracuse, N.Y
- Second Harvest Foodbank of Metrolina, Charlotte, N.C.
Equitable Foundation provides grants, partnerships, and volunteer service to support communities around the country. Its flagship program, the Equitable ExcellenceSM Scholarship, recognizes high-school students who have made remarkable contributions to their schools or communities and award them with scholarships totaling $30 million to more than 6,800 students since 2003.
About Equitable
Equitable, a subsidiary of Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH), has been one of America’s leading financial services providers since 1859. With the mission to help clients secure their financial well-being, the company provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families and small businesses. Equitable has more than 8,000 employees and financial professionals and serves 2.8 million clients across the country. Please visit equitable.com for more information.
About DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, more than 4 million people and partners have contributed $950 million to support 1.5 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org.