‘Fuel Your School’ Benefits Classroom Projects

The 2015 Chevron Fuel Your School campaign is underway with 32 projects ready to be funded on the Big Island.

For the past three years, Chevron has teamed up with DonorsChoose.org to assist teachers in Hawai’i with needed supplies for classroom projects.

Teachers spend more than $400 out of their own pockets to pay for school supplies, instructional materials, and other classroom materials for student learning every year, a total of more than $1.8 billion across the country, according to a 2014 National School Supply and Equipment Association Retail Market Awareness Study.

Through Nov. 15, teachers can submit a request for project items like microscopes, art supplies, and books by visiting DonorsChoose.org. Once the projects are funded, a teacher can submit another project request. Teacher have until Nov. 15 to submit their proposals.

A company spokesperson tells Big Island Now that so far during the 2015 campaign, a total of $33,085.53 in project proposals have been submitted, and about $100,000 is left in the fund for project submissions.

Community involvement supports the projects, as every time someone fills up with eight gallons or more at any Chevron gas station between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, one dollar is donated, up to $350,000, to help fund the proposals.

In 2014, more than 22,189 students benefited as a result of 247 teachers at 121 public school across the state receiving funding for their proposed projects, totaling $38,662.99.

“The Fuel Your School program highlights Chevron’s continued commitment to education, including areas of science, technology, engineering, and math to help prepare students who may be interested in these types of advanced technical jobs,” the spokesperson said.