$100 gift cards distributed to teachers with delayed start dates

The HISD Foundation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has raised more than $1.3 million and the nonprofit group is wasting no time distributing the funds to support schools and staff that were most severely impacted by the storm.

On Friday, Sept 15, Foundation Director Ann Scott surprised those teachers still awaiting the start of school on their campus with a $100 gift card to either Office Depot, Crystal Children and Teacher Supply, or Lakeshore Learning. The amount of donated gift cards totaled nearly $37,000 and will be used by the teachers to redecorate their damaged classrooms or supply a new classroom in a different facility.

In addition, Scott announced that starting next week, the Foundation will begin offering grants of up to $1,000 to all HISD teachers who were impacted by Harvey.   

“As a former teacher myself I know what it is like every year to purchase those supplemental materials to help you do your job and I can’t imagine how devastating it must have been to have lost them,” Scott said.

Funds donated to the HISD Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund are also being used to purchase items that students need most, like uniforms and schools supplies. All purchased and donated Items are being distributed directly to the impacted schools and at events across the district.