Dear Friends,
As EcoRise Board Chair and Vice Chair, we could not be more proud of the incredible impact EcoRise staff and teachers continue to make empowering a new generation of student leaders to design a sustainable future for all.
In 2008, EcoRise began serving one school in Austin, TX and over the past 12 years has grown to a nationally recognized organization serving more than 4,700 teachers, 2,000 schools, and 268,000 students in all 50 states. We are continuing to deepen our impact by offering new ways for students to take action in their communities. For example, we recently kicked off the San Antonio Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives where the Council will develop a community resilience project this school year.
During this unprecedented time, EcoRise is supporting students and teachers in identifying connections between equity, public health, and the climate, as they build resilient and healthy communities for our future. In the face of COVID-19, EcoRise has adapted our programs to serve teachers and students who are learning in a variety of ways this school year. This includes an expanded library of online resources for at-home learning, new environmental justice curriculum, virtual student convenings, and remote teacher professional development.
Teachers have always been heroes, but this year, the pandemic has put a spotlight on the real challenges educators face each day. Today, we recognize our heroes—the teachers and educators across the globe—who are working tirelessly to meet their students’ needs during this uncertain time. As an organization, we are committed to recognizing, nourishing and empowering our classroom heroes with professional development, specialized support, and classroom grants for student projects.
This #GivingTuesday, December 1st, EcoRise is asking for your help. Your donation will provide teachers with leading-edge tools to supply students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to design resilient communities of the future. To celebrate, we, along with members of the EcoRise Board of Directors and Advisory Council, will be matching donations to EcoRise dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. Your donation, whether one-time or monthly, will go a long way in empowering youth who are creating environmental and social change in their communities. Please save the date and make a gift to EcoRise on #GivingTuesday, December 1st.
Thank you for your support!
Josh Wiener
Board Chair