San Diego Downtown News

Coastal Kids: Unique Resource Brings Aid to Teachers and Schools

When Jerry Hall made a childhood promise to make schools a better place, he meant it.

After launching a successful website development firm called www.eWebLab.com in 1999, Jerry Hall applied his internet expertise and personal resources to developing a unique web support system for teachers called www.iLoveSchools.com.

According to statistics compiled by the NSSEA, elementary school teachers are spending out-of-pocket an average of $609 per year on supplies, books, and teaching tools. Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers are spending even more, averaging $1,794 dollars out-of-pocket annually. In many cases, however, educators and students go without valuable materials and equipment due to lack funds.

www.iLoveSchools.com is a unique website designed to match donors of equipment, supplies, and materials with teachers nationwide. In its first year of operation, more than 5,000 teachers registered online at www.iLoveSchools.com listing simple requests for donations including office supplies, art materials, and books or equipment and services including printing, video cassette recorders, and audio tapes.

Www.iLoveSchools.com is designed to so that 100% of a donation goes directly to recipients. Donors will find that www.iLoveSchools.com makes it easy to find a teacher or school in need and makes it even easier for donors to make a difference, especially in the lives of those who need it most…the students. As donor Janet Johnson from Iowa noted “While my donation was small, the students sent me wonderful hand-made thank-you’s using the art supplies I donated to express their appreciation. They made my day!”

With more than 3 million teachers in the United States today, www.iLoveSchools.com expects to get quite a bit busier. You can help by visiting the website. Invite the teachers you know to use the service to list items they need OR become a donor and search the site for a teacher to support by area, school name, or budget item. Even the smallest gifts make a large impact!

For more information, contact Jerry Hall at 858-274-2121 or via email at jhall@iLoveSchools.com.

Jennifer Case is a local author, educator, and arts advocate committed to inspiring the creative spirit in all ages. She serves as Deputy Director of the San Diego Children’s Museum / Museo de los Ninos. For more information on the museum visit www.sdchildrensmuseum.org or call 619-233-8792 x107.

Click here to read I Love Schools, Inc. press releases.