Horace Mann employees help complete 22 DonorsChoose.org projects

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Dec. 18, 2019) – Horace Mann employees donated $3,000 to HMGives to DonorsChoose, an employee-driven fundraiser thanking educators in three of Horace Mann’s office locations, including 20 classrooms in Sangamon County, Illinois, one in Irving, Texas and another in Durham, North Carolina. In addition, the company, which helps educators achieve their financial goals, donated $2 for every $1 donated by employees (up to $2,500) for a total donation to DonorsChoose.org projects of $8,000.

Early Learning Center educator Sara Gwaltney’s project, One, Two, Three, See The Puppet Show With Me!, is one of the completed projects. “I can't thank you enough for this amazing gift! This couldn't have come at a more perfect time! This program is incredible and has helped add essential learning materials to my classroom,” said Gwaltney when she heard the news. “The children are going to be excited to use the materials coming our way. Thank you for valuing and investing in early childhood education. Room 171 thanks everyone who donated!!”

Altogether, the projects completed include iPads, movie tickets, seat sacks, wiggle chairs, math and science tools, headphones and more. Educators estimate more than 700 students will benefit from the donated supplies. DonorsChoose.org provides a way for teachers to post classroom project requests allowing donors to identify and choose projects to support.

“Horace Mann’s employees are so generous. They love to help our educator customers by giving them what they need for their classrooms and using DonorsChoose.org is the perfect way to do it,” said Michelle Eccles, Horace Mann’s Public Relations Manager. “Educators are driven to help their students, and this is one small way to help educators fulfill that mission.”

Projects were funded in the Springfield, Auburn, New Berlin, Riverton and Ball-Chatham School Districts in Illinois, as well as in the Durham School District in North Carolina and Irving Independent School District in Irving, Texas.