$30,000 donated for Aiken-area teachers' projects

The South Carolina Children’s Fund and Old Barnwell Golf Club recently donated $30,000 to help teachers in the Aiken area. The funds will support 40 classroom projects listed on DonorsChoose, an education nonprofit. On March 24, representatives from both organizations visited Barnwell Primary School and Midland Valley High School to share the good news with teachers. Corey Lenon, a culinary arts teacher at Midland Valley, expressed her gratitude, saying the funding will greatly benefit her students. She received $2,721 to buy cooking tools and uniforms for her classes. Midland Valley High School has now received over $40,000 in funding from DonorsChoose in the last two years. Lenon noted the importance of mentoring other teachers to help them secure funding for their projects. The contributions of $15,000 each from the South Carolina Children’s Fund and Old Barnwell Golf Club focus mainly on Aiken County. Christopher Ruszkowski, CEO of the South Carolina Children’s Fund, mentioned that this is the first time they have funded classroom projects directly. Their goal is to improve educational support in the area. Joe Stoehner from Old Barnwell added that the club values community involvement. Jessica Thorne from DonorsChoose expressed excitement about the partnership and its impact on local education. The nonprofit has supported millions of projects over its 25-year history. Additionally, Ruth Morris, the school nurse at Midland Valley High, shared her positive experiences with DonorsChoose. She received funding for first aid supplies and equipment that benefits her students. Morris highlighted the vital role this support plays in her work, especially for students with medical needs.