Posted onMay 4, 2021May 4, 2021 by Zach Fowle
Every year, dwindling school budgets lead teachers across the U.S. to spend their own money on supplies for their students and classrooms. In fact, studies have shown that 94% of public school teachers spend their own money on school supplies without getting reimbursed, and that on average they spend close to $500 on school supplies every year. This, you hopefully agree, is a problem.
So, in 2011 we created Four Peaks For Teachers to help reduce the financial burden on teachers who spend hundreds of dollars on school supplies each year. Using direct donations and funds raised through beer sales, we purchase the supplies teachers tell us they need, from scissors and staplers to pencils and paper, and build kits to hand out for free in multiple cities and states.
The 11th annual Four Peaks For Teachers fundraiser begins Tuesday, May 4. Our goal this year: Distribute free kits full of much-needed school supplies to 10,000 teachers in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. The campaign’s launch coincides with Teacher Appreciation Day and includes a new twist: This year, we’ll also give out $1,000 grants for school supplies to 11 teachers nationwide.
How can you help support Four Peaks For Teachers? There are several ways. Starting May 4, we’ll set aside a portion of sales of Kilt Lifter for the program. Customers located outside Four Peaks’ distribution footprint can also make a direct, tax-deductible donation to the program at fourpeaksforteachers.org. The more Kilt Lifter sold and the more direct donations made, the more supplies that can be included in each kit. Four Peaks For Teachers will purchase and donate essential supplies such as paper reams, pencils, pen and marker packs, staplers and staples. The kits will be distributed in July.
“It’s imperative we support our educators, now more than ever,” says Four Peaks co-founder Jim Scussel. “During an unprecedented year, teachers adapted to new teaching styles and put their own health and safety on the line for children across the country. Four Peaks is proud that this program continues to expand each year in support of our educators, and we are thankful to our partners and volunteers for making this program possible.”
Scussel created Four Peaks For Teachers in 2011 to help reduce the financial burden on teachers. From small beginnings—we handed out 350 school supply kits that first year—the program has grown along with need to help more and more teachers throughout the Southwest.
“We’re particularly excited to distribute 11 grants this year,” Scussel says. “Because of the pandemic, teachers had to work even harder to engage students and maintain their progress. Our grant competition is open to teachers nationwide, even in states that don’t have our beer yet, so if you know a great teacher, be sure to nominate him or her.”
You can nominate a teacher for a grant here.Nominations will be open May 4 through July 15. Winners will be announced after July 15.
Kits will be available this summer in these cities:
- Arizona: Flagstaff, Kingman, Laveen, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Prescott, Sierra Vista, Tempe, Tucson
- Nevada: Las Vegas, Elko
- New Mexico: Albuquerque
- Texas: El Paso
Teachers interested in receiving a free school supply kit can visit fourpeaksforteachers.org for pickup locations and dates.
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