Good morning all. I hope everyone has had a few days to digest the lost to those stinky Eagles and are starting to get geared up for Saturday at the Rock and our first Sun Belt win. I hope you will indulge me, as the board so graciously indulged McLeansville a few weeks back with his wonderful DonorsChoose project, as I share the details of a DonorsChoose.org project that my girlfriend began for her Blackburn Elementary School classroom last evening. Please note that is project is currently in a matching phase where any gift, up to $100, will be matched. The details on this can be found below.

Back about two years ago I came to the board with a DonorsChoose project that she was seeking assistance in funding and through the generosity of the board, the MMB was almost completely responsible for funding the classroom's first iPad. Two years later, and COUNTLESS hours of use later, the need has arisen for an additional iPad in her classroom. The kids just cannot get enough! Jessica gets such a positive response from the kids when they are able to put their hands on a technology device like the iPad and these are kids that generally speaking do not have the opportunity at home. I believe only 1 or 2 of her 24 children in her homeroom (and 5 or 6 of the 50 she teaches on a daily basis) have iPads or the like for their personal use at home. The project can be found here:

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/app ... g/1376864/

The aforementioned matching program is very easy to take advantage of: simply give to Jessica's classroom by October 5, 2014 and your donation will be doubled. Just enter the code INSPIRE on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100). Also, all donations are of course tax-deductible.

If any of you may be able to help fund this project please know the iPad you are helping purchase will not sit idle on a shelf, but rather be drained of it's battery life almost daily. Which, lets be honest, is a good thing when it means children are learning and doing.

As far as DonorsChoose.org and the organization they run...I'll echo the sentiments McLeansville mentioned in his posting a little while back. It is a great site with many K-12 project offerings, across all subject areas, and if you'd prefer to find another project or an additional project to give your resources towards I'm sure those folks would appreciate it greatly. Teachers need all the help we can give them in making sure the resources available to them match the desire in their hearts to educate.

I'll also follow McLeansville's lead in letting the MMB take "ownership" of the iPad if you can help the MMB fund the majority of the project. I'll make sure a big ol' Block A (white or black, per the board's preference goes on the back of the iPad, for all to see. If you could please simply leave a comment with MMB or "GO APPs" or something to those ends in the comments field on the donation area so that we will know who helped.

Thank you all for indulging me and hopefully with the MMB's assistance we can fund this iPad for a bunch of Catawba County 4th graders who really would appreciate it, and one exuberant 25-year old teacher and her "old" Mountaineer boyfriend who would be so grateful as well.

You do know that DonorsChoose.org is a scam don't you.

Just messing.

Those that helped me may have received a gift card instead of having the donations doubled. This would be a great time to use those gift cards if you have not already done so.

On a side note, I asked if I could direct a Catamount I work with over to the CP board. I thought they may like to help out one of their own. I posted, bumped the post, and finally one person thought it was a good idea. I would have thought that I would have at least gotten a "post and we can see what the project is and determine if it warrants our support." At YC/MMB we help our own which I appreciate.

Just donated. Don't have much right now but I do what I can.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote:You do know that DonorsChoose.org is a scam don't you.

Just messing.

Those that helped me may have received a gift card instead of having the donations doubled. This would be a great time to use those gift cards if you have not already done so.

On a side note, I asked if I could direct a Catamount I work with over to the CP board. I thought they may like to help out one of their own. I posted, bumped the post, and finally one person thought it was a good idea. I would have thought that I would have at least gotten a "post and we can see what the project is and determine if it warrants our support." At YC/MMB we help our own which I appreciate.

That would be fantastic if any gift cards are out there that could be applied to this project. Thanks for making the suggestion! Hopefully some of your donors out there might have one they can apply.

And I agree completely on the "we help out our own". We certainly have our disagreements on the MMB but at the end of the day we're all united by one common love. Thanks again McLeansville for your support and sending people along to Jessica's Donor's Choose page.

Thanks for posting this opportunity. I would much rather give directly to a project like this than watch dollars wash through the trash of Raleigh and maybe filter back to some of our WNC schools. Good luck with the rest of the funds.

firemoose wrote:Just donated. Don't have much right now but I do what I can.

On behalf of Jessica and her kids, thank you so much, Firemoose. Every bit helps. I'd fund the iPad for her classroom out of my own pocket if I could, but alas, I'm in the same boat. One thing: Did you make sure to enter the word "INSPIRE" in the promo box at checkout? A corporation is anonymously matching all gifts right now and I just wanted to make sure your donation received the maximum benefit. If you did not enter the code please let me know and I can try to locate a email address or phone number at Donors Choose where I'm told a quick call can result in them "matching" the donation even after the fact. Thanks again, Firemoose!

HkyMtneer wrote:

firemoose wrote:Just donated. Don't have much right now but I do what I can.

On behalf of Jessica and her kids, thank you so much, Firemoose. Every bit helps. I'd fund the iPad for her classroom out of my own pocket if I could, but alas, I'm in the same boat. One thing: Did you make sure to enter the word "INSPIRE" in the promo box at checkout? A corporation is anonymously matching all gifts right now and I just wanted to make sure your donation received the maximum benefit. If you did not enter the code please let me know and I can try to locate a email address or phone number at Donors Choose where I'm told a quick call can result in them "matching" the donation even after the fact. Thanks again, Firemoose!

I REALLY have to slow down and read once in awhile. Last time I forgot to add "MMB" to McLeansville's donation so this time I made sure to add that in the message. But of course I've got too much going on and I completely forgot to add "INSPIRE" in the box. And you even took the time to make the text bigger and bolder for that part. Have no clue how I missed that one. Didn't help that I was on the phone at the time. Please see if you can get it matched as I gave what I did wanting it to be doubled. I am really sorry. I honestly can walk and chew gum at the same time but it appears I can't talk, read, and type. We really need a "banghead" smilie on the side.

DaphneUrquhart wrote:Thanks for posting this opportunity. I would much rather give directly to a project like this than watch dollars wash through the trash of Raleigh and maybe filter back to some of our WNC schools. Good luck with the rest of the funds.

Thanks so much, Daphne! Jessica let me know she saw your donation and reference to "GO APP" on the Donors Choose page. Awesome! Thank you for the well-wishes on her receiving the rest of the funds for the class iPad. Hoping more of our fellow Mountaineers can step up to the plate, especially while the "INSPIRE" match is still in effect. Starting to get closer to that range where a big block 'A' goes on the back of the iPad if/when the projected is completed and Jessica's class receives the iPad. (And I agree with your Raleigh sentiments

HkyMtneer wrote:

firemoose wrote:Just donated. Don't have much right now but I do what I can.

On behalf of Jessica and her kids, thank you so much, Firemoose. Every bit helps. I'd fund the iPad for her classroom out of my own pocket if I could, but alas, I'm in the same boat. One thing: Did you make sure to enter the word "INSPIRE" in the promo box at checkout? A corporation is anonymously matching all gifts right now and I just wanted to make sure your donation received the maximum benefit. If you did not enter the code please let me know and I can try to locate a email address or phone number at Donors Choose where I'm told a quick call can result in them "matching" the donation even after the fact. Thanks again, Firemoose!

I filled out the info and just was notified that my donation has now been matched. Thanks for the help and link to get to the right place. Glad I could help.

firemoose wrote:

HkyMtneer wrote:

firemoose wrote:Just donated. Don't have much right now but I do what I can.

On behalf of Jessica and her kids, thank you so much, Firemoose. Every bit helps. I'd fund the iPad for her classroom out of my own pocket if I could, but alas, I'm in the same boat. One thing: Did you make sure to enter the word "INSPIRE" in the promo box at checkout? A corporation is anonymously matching all gifts right now and I just wanted to make sure your donation received the maximum benefit. If you did not enter the code please let me know and I can try to locate a email address or phone number at Donors Choose where I'm told a quick call can result in them "matching" the donation even after the fact. Thanks again, Firemoose!

I filled out the info and just was notified that my donation has now been matched. Thanks for the help and link to get to the right place. Glad I could help.

Fantastic! So glad they matched it. Every dollar helps. Needing some new donors, especially while the match is still in effect. Let's go APPS!!

Was just informed about a very nice donation to Jessica's Donors Choose project earlier today, in the name of Appalachian, by a one "Daniel Richart". Not quite sure of what handle you go by Mr. Richart (and I assume you are a member of the MMB) but a very big thank-you from Jessica and her class. With the matching challenge still in effect your gift today doubled and made another nice dent in this project. Looking for a few more APPS to step up and help get this iPad funded for the 4th grade kids at Blackburn Elementary. Thanks, guys!

HkyMtneer wrote:Was just informed about a very nice donation to Jessica's Donors Choose project earlier today, in the name of Appalachian, by a one "Daniel Richart". Not quite sure of what handle you go by Mr. Richart (and I assume you are a member of the MMB) but a very big thank-you from Jessica and her class. With the matching challenge still in effect your gift today doubled and made another nice dent in this project. Looking for a few more APPS to step up and help get this iPad funded for the 4th grade kids at Blackburn Elementary. Thanks, guys!

I was more than happy to help. My daughter, who is also an App grad, is a teacher as well and I like to do what I can to help out our teachers. Not sure when it will come through, but I also filed to have it matched by Wells Fargo.

appbanker wrote:

HkyMtneer wrote:Was just informed about a very nice donation to Jessica's Donors Choose project earlier today, in the name of Appalachian, by a one "Daniel Richart". Not quite sure of what handle you go by Mr. Richart (and I assume you are a member of the MMB) but a very big thank-you from Jessica and her class. With the matching challenge still in effect your gift today doubled and made another nice dent in this project. Looking for a few more APPS to step up and help get this iPad funded for the 4th grade kids at Blackburn Elementary. Thanks, guys!

I was more than happy to help. My daughter, who is also an App grad, is a teacher as well and I like to do what I can to help out our teachers. Not sure when it will come through, but I also filed to have it matched by Wells Fargo.

Thanks, banker! I'm sure your daughter appreciates the support, and I know "my" teacher does as well. It's a tough profession. I couldn't do it...that's for sure! The match program your employer offers is also fantastic. Hopefully that will process soon, and bring the number needed down a little bit more.

A good Friday evening APP NATION. Not long now, less than 24 hours until game time. I ask that you please indulge me again as Jessica's Donors Choose project is needing a bit of a spark to keep the momentum going. We're only $95 away ($190 total but every dollar is matched when entering the word "INSPIRE" in the promo code box). I would love to start shopping for that block 'A' case for the iPad I promised to buy if the MMB can knock out the funding. Lets help get this iPad done for Jessica's classroom. GO APPS!

Fully Funded!! Thanks so much, MMB! Thanks to an anonymous gift of the last $95, which was immediately matched, Jessica's 4th graders are about to reap the rewards of a new iPad in the classroom. This means I'm going to have to come up with a few extra dollars for a block 'A' case but that's a problem I'm glad to have. I'll now return everyone to their regularly scheduled programming and not "bother" anyone with non-APP requests for a bit. Now if we can just get that first SBC win tomorrow at the Rock all will be right with the world. GO APPS!!!