Latest news with #DonorsChoose
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ripple's RLUSD in Focus as Firm Pledges $25M to U.S. Educational Initiatives
Payments firm Ripple has pledged $25 million to support educational initiatives in the U.S., with most of the disbursement in its RLUSD stablecoin. The funds will be distributed throughout 2025. Some $15 million is dedicated to teachers through DonorsChoose, and $10 million will go to Teach For America. The donation is in partnership with The Giving Block, coming at a critical time for education in the U.S. as ongoing federal funding cuts are causing significant uncertainty among educational institutions and educators alike. The Giving Block also added support for donations using RLUSD, Ripple's U.S. dollar pegged stablecoin, as the token gains traction in a crowded market. Such transfers boost the token's visibility and usecase, however, some developers say. "Stablecoins like RLUSD are proving their value in real-world applications like donations and large-scale transactions,' Panos Mekras, CEO of Anodos Labs, a DeFi project on XRPL, said in a Telegram message. 'They offer fast, low-cost transfers, free from middlemen and banking restrictions, making them ideal for moving significant amounts efficiently and transparently, as Ripple's donation demonstrates." RLUSD has a circulating supply of $316 million as of Tuesday, data shows. Security features make RLUSD appealing to institutional users. An XRP Ledger amendment in January saw a 'clawback' feature go live on the network, allowing the issuer to reclaim or "claw back" certain tokens, such as RLUSD, from users' wallets under specific conditions.
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Ripple Pledges $25M to Support U.S. Classrooms and Teachers
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ripple, the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions, today announced a $25 million commitment to leading education nonprofits DonorsChoose and Teach For America. This funding will equip young Americans and educators alike with the resources needed to improve academic outcomes, build economic resilience and thrive in a rapidly evolving job market. Despite clear links between grade-level literacy and lifetime economic opportunity, many classrooms still face significant challenges in accessing adequate resources to enable all students to fulfill their academic potential. According to a 2024 Gallup survey, 55% of U.S. parents and adults are dissatisfied with the quality of K-12 education in America, reflecting broader concerns about constraints and gaps in funding for education. Ripple's commitment aims to help bridge this gap by supporting students, teachers and staff with the resources to re-build confidence and deliver results in the classroom. 'Ripple has always championed financial and educational access for all, and we're partnering with some of the most impactful organizations – DonorsChoose and Teach For America – to benefit thousands of classrooms across the U.S.,' said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple. 'Together, we hope to inspire others to do the same, starting with Teacher Appreciation Week, and leading into the rest of the year to support students and teachers with the resources they need to build a stronger future for themselves and their communities.' In a first-of-its-kind initiative, DonorsChoose and Teach For America will accept the majority of the $25 million grant in Ripple USD (RLUSD), Ripple's U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. Stablecoins are quickly emerging as a practical method for disbursing funds, becoming the most widely used type of crypto-enabled payment mechanisms and representing over half of all onchain transaction volume in recent months according to Chainalysis data. As crypto-enabled payments become more prevalent, the ability for charitable organizations to utilize these technologies directly within their own networks through platforms such as The Giving Block will become increasingly valuable. Ripple is partnering with DonorsChoose and Teach For America to support innovative, high-impact initiatives throughout the year, including funding thousands of classroom projects and teacher requests during Teacher Appreciation Week starting today, Teach For America's Ignite tutoring program nationwide, and a national STEM Innovation Challenge. These partnerships will also support new initiatives focused on financial literacy, helping students and educators across the U.S. build strong academic foundations and economic mobility in a rapidly evolving job market. "Teachers are going the extra mile for their students' education, even spending hundreds - sometimes thousands - of dollars out-of-pocket for their classrooms," said Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose. "Through their initiatives, Ripple is directly providing teachers with the resources their students need for the best education. Students will not only get their hands on materials that will enhance their learning, but they will also have the tools to help set them on the path to a bright future." 'We're deeply grateful to Ripple for this transformative support,' said Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of Teach For America. 'This funding will expand our Ignite Tutoring Fellows program, drive innovation in our Reinvention Lab, and provide crucial financial assistance to thousands of new corps members during their teacher preparation. With Ripple's partnership, we're advancing our mission to ensure every child has access to an excellent education and the opportunity to thrive." Ripple's commitment to financial literacy and education builds on its broader mission to drive meaningful impact through philanthropy and crypto-enabled solutions. Since 2018, Ripple has contributed over $200 million to global initiatives, with nearly 80% of employees participating in giving and volunteering programs. By supporting hundreds of nonprofits, mission-driven fintechs, and leading universities through its University Blockchain Research Initiative, Ripple continues to drive long-term, positive change worldwide. Those interested in fueling the future of teachers and K-12 classrooms can donate RLUSD, XRP and other cryptocurrencies via The Giving Block at About Ripple Ripple is the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions—delivering simple, compliant, reliable software that unlocks efficiencies, reduces friction, and enhances innovation in global finance. Ripple's solutions leverage the XRP Ledger and its native digital asset, XRP, which was purpose-built to enable fast, low-cost, highly scalable transactions across developer and financial use cases. With a proven track record working with regulators and policymakers around the world, Ripple's payments, custody and stablecoin solutions are pioneering the digital asset economy—building credibility and trust in enterprise blockchain. Together with customers, partners and the developer community, we are transforming the way the world tokenizes, stores, exchanges, and moves value. About DonorsChoose DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 6.4 million people and partners have contributed $1.7 billion to support over 3 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit About Teach For America Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to reach One Day when every child has access to an excellent education. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a growing network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that impact a young person's education. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working in pursuit of profound change so that one day every child has the opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads. About The Giving Block The Giving Block, a Shift4 company, is the platform helping nonprofits fundraise more effectively from modern philanthropists. Pioneers of the 'Crypto Philanthropy' movement, The Giving Block developed the leading solutions for cryptocurrency donations, taking crypto and NFT donations mainstream in the nonprofit sector. The Giving Block's team then developed a stock and DAF giving experience built to empower even more donors to give. When combined, The Giving Block's product suite empowers more donors than ever to give assets to their favorite causes. Today, thousands of nonprofits are using The Giving Block to fundraise from modern philanthropists. Learn more about The Giving Block here.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2025? What to know about discounts and deals in Tennessee
It won't be long before Tennessee schools will be out for the summer, but the home stretch until break is still packed with events, lessons and more. So, it's time to show teachers a little extra appreciation. Teacher Appreciation Week has taken place in the United States over the last several decades. The tradition of showing teachers how much they are appreciated usually happens toward the end of the school year and is meant to show teachers an extra bit of love during what can often be a hectic time of year. And that week is almost upon us for 2025. Opinion: Celebrate wonderful public school educators during Teacher Appreciation Week | Opinion For 2025, Teacher Appreciation Week starts May 5 and continues until May 9. Teacher Appreciation Week is always the first full week of May. Teacher Appreciation Week has a long history. It originally started as a single day of appreciation in 1953 and was championed by Eleanor Roosevelt. It wasn't until the 1980s that it grew to be what it is today. 'In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to set aside a day to recognize teachers. Back then, it was just a single day of recognition,' according to Teachers of Tomorrow. 'However, due to the overwhelming support for honoring teachers, the National Education Association (NEA) successfully lobbied to turn it into a full week in 1986.' Retailers usually offer teachers a special discount during Teacher Appreciation Week, while others sometimes have specials year-round for them. In April, Teachers of Tomorrow put together a list of some deals and promotions for Teacher Appreciation Week: Michael's teacher discount: Michael's offers educators a 15% discount on all purchases, including sale items. Office Depot and OfficeMax: Offers 30% back in Bonus Rewards on a qualifying in-store purchase. Ford: Teachers who take a virtual test drive through May 7 will receive a $50 e-gift card that can be used to contribute to teacher requests on DonorsChoose. Burger King: Teachers and all other customers can get free fries with any purchase during Teacher Appreciation Week. Staples: Teachers can save 20% off their in-store purchases at Staples by showing a teacher ID and using a coupon. You can also earn rewards through the Staples Classroom Rewards Program. Buffalo Wild Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings offers teachers and school staff a 20% discount on their entire order with a valid ID. Adobe: Offers exclusive educational pricing to educators and learners with over 60% off on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan. To access this discount, visit the Adobe website and verify your eligibility as a teacher or student. Cole Haan Shoes: By simply having a valid school email address, educators and learners can get a 20% discount on online purchases from Cole Haan. Lenovo: Teachers and students can visit Lenovo's website, and educators and learners can enjoy an extra 5% off sitewide. Visit the Lenovo website for available products. During the checkout process, people will be asked to verify their status as a teacher or student to apply the extra 5% discount to the purchase. National Education Association: The National Education Association (NEA) offers members access to ongoing deals and discounts tailored specifically for educators. Members can enjoy discounted vacations, exclusive offers on products and services, and rewards programs. Samsung's Education Offers Program: Samsung's Education Offers Program allows teachers to use the verification process to confirm their identity as a teacher and get access to the exclusive discounts and savings available through the program. Academy Sports: At Academy Sports, teachers and school staff are honored with a special discount of 10% off on purchases, both in-store and online. Visit an Academy Sports store and present a valid school ID or other proof of employment at the checkout in-store. For online purchases, verify eligibility through the provided link during the checkout process. Crayola: Crayola recognizes the contributions of teachers by offering a special discount of 20% off on all products listed on the 'Teacher Gift Ideas' category page. Teachers can enjoy this discount by using the code 'EDUCATORS' during checkout. J. Crew: Crew appreciates teachers by offering them a special discount of 15% off both in-store and online purchases. Teachers and students can easily access this discount by registering on the J. Crew website. Treasure Coast News contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is Teacher Appreciation Week? 2025 discounts and deals
San Francisco Chronicle
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Olivia Rodrigo sent a special message to this Oakland ‘Jeopardy!' winner
W. Kamau Bell, the Bay Area's newest 'Jeopardy!' champion, received a special message from Olivia Rodrigo following his big win. The pop star sent Bell a video message for his daughter Juno, after the Oakland comic and documentarian said on the quiz show that his 10-year-old trained him on Rodrigo's discography that in turn led to his victory on Season 3 of 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' Following his win last week, Bell turned to his social media followers to help get the attention of Rodrigo to surprise his daughter. 'I just wanna let everybody know that Olivia Rodrigo indeed did say hi to Juno and sent her a very nice video message,' he shared in an Instagram video on Sunday, April 27, adding that he's won't post the pop star's message because 'it's between Juno and Olivia Rodrigo.' Off camera, Juno added that the interaction with the Grammy-winner was 'very good.' 'Now let's leave that wonderful person alone to make the follow up to the album that we've all been waiting for,' Bell concluded, referencing Rodrigo's highly-anticipated third album, which is currently in the works. During the 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' season finale, which aired Wednesday, April 23, Bell correctly identified 'Drivers License' as Rodrigo's ballad named for 'this government-issued form of I.D.,' shortly after sharing with the audience that Juno had quizzed him on the singer in the car that morning. 'I nailed it,' he proudly declared. Despite starting off the game in last place, trailing behind his opponents, 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' comedian Robin Thede and entrepreneur Dave Friedberg, Bell secured the lead by correctly responding to a Daily Double clue about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us.' He finished the game dominating over Thede and Friedberg by more than $25,000, securing the donation prize of $1 million for his charity of choice, DonorsChoose. The nonprofit organization helps teachers request classroom supplies and enables donors to help fund public school projects. A day after his big win, Bell paid a visit to Castlemont High School to share that he'll be pledging $183,000 of his winnings to support Oakland teachers across 63 schools and $53,000 to support teachers at 22 schools in Mobile, Ala., the city where his father lives.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Newest ‘Jeopardy!' champion donates portion of winnings to Oakland schools
W. Kamau Bell just became the Bay Area's latest 'Jeopardy!' champion, and he's donating a portion of his winnings to East Bay schools. The Oakland comic and documentarian won 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' beating out 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' comedian Robin Thede and entrepreneur Dave Friedberg on the season finale, which aired Wednesday, April 23. By winning, he secured $1 million for the charity of his choice: education nonprofit DonorsChoose, which helps teachers request classroom supplies and enables donors to help fund public school projects. 'It means the world to me to be able to do something for this community,' Bell told the Chronicle. 'I know that an educated student is better for all of us, and teachers that don't have to reach into their pockets to support their students is better for all of us. … The students may never actually understand what just happened, but I know the teachers appreciate it." Bell took no time to celebrate. The next morning, he visited Castlemont High School in Oakland, one of the institutions that will benefit from his 'Jeopardy!' pay out. Joseph Blasher, the school's principal, said Bell's donation is particularly helpful in the wake of Oakland Unified School District's financial struggles, which have made it difficult for teachers to plan projects. "It means people that are from our space continue to help and love our space and our people,' Blasher said. 'OUSD is going through some pretty significant budget issues, so this really helps with specific teacher projects that normally we would be able to fund but are not able to … This just means the world to us.' A total of $183,000 of Bell's winnings will support Oakland teachers across 63 schools, while $53,000 will benefit teachers across 22 schools in Mobile, Ala., where his dad lives. Though the comic got off to a slow start during the final 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' matchup, trailing behind both of his opponents by more than $2,000, Bell was able to turn things around during the second half of the game thanks to some pop culture training from his 10-year-old daughter, Juno. He correctly identified 'Drivers License' as the Olivia Rodrgio ballad named for 'this government-issued form of I.D.,' shortly after revealing to the audience that his daughter had quizzed him about the pop singer in the car that morning. 'I nailed it,' he said proudly on the quiz show. But it was the Daily Double that secured the lead for Bell, who correctly responded to the clue about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' setting him ahead at $11,200. Though he dropped to second place during the third round, for Final Jeopardy, Bell was the only contestant to correctly identifying Bob Newhart as the comedian who often credited his wife for inspiring 'what is still called one of the greatest finales in TV history,' a nod to the 1978 episode of 'The Bob Newhart Show.' He ended the game with a total of $27,199, dominating over Thede and Friedberg by more than $25,000. 'This is amazing,' Bell said when receiving his trophy from host Ken Jennings. Past winners of the celebrity game show, which launched in 2022 as an offshoot of 'Jeopardy!', include 'The Mindy Project' actor Ike Barinholtz and 'Abbott Elementary' star Lisa Ann Walter. During his run on Season 3 of the quiz show, Bell faced off against celebrities such as 'New Girl' star Max Greenfield, 'Grey's Anatomy' actor Camilla Luddington and Bay Area comic Margaret Cho. Earlier this month, Bell brought the show to the East Bay for his third stand-up comedy residency at Berkeley Repertory Theater.
