Is it real?
As Jane’s Fund deepens our relationships with under-resourced schools, the number of stories we hear about servant leadership and dedication from teachers and staff leaves us speechless:
“My friends and parents give me gas money for my birthday and the holidays because part of every paycheck I receive goes toward basic needs for my students.”
“I wake up at 4:30 a.m. and commute an hour to and from work every day because I feel called to be a principal here. I rarely get home before 9 p.m., but these students deserve a community that believes in them. Please pray I can help create that here.”
“We do not have a PTA or community partners, other than a few church members who help provide snacks for staff on special occasions.”
“I love my students, but I must leave because I don’t make enough money to pay my bills. My teacher friends at other schools don’t have to use their own funds to help students buy essentials.”
Schools with high poverty rates (Title I schools) face greater difficulty attracting and retaining staff—a trend seen across North Carolina.
Schools cannot operate without teachers, custodians, coaches, and administrators. In the schools Jane’s Fund partners with, these unsung heroes are rarely acknowledged in a tangible way, simply because of the population they serve. Nobody can continue to show up each day without encouragement, help, and a genuine “job well done.”
Once a year, Jane’s Fund shows up to our schools with a $100 bill for every staff member.
The surprise—typically shared in advance only with the principal—may happen at a staff meeting, on a holiday like Valentine’s Day, or on a random Tuesday morning as students and staff work diligently in their classrooms. Doughnuts, costumes, hugs, and handwritten thank-you notes often accompany the money. Each $100 Staff Surprise Day is unique.
AND THE #1 QUESTION a Jane’s Fund team member or volunteer is asked: “Is this real?”
AND THE #1 RESPONSE:
“YES, it’s real—and you deserve so much more for showing up each and every day to teach, serve, and care for kids. THANK YOU!”
Number of $100 Staff Surprise Gifts Shared by Jane’s Fund:
1,376 School Heroes
(average cost per school $6500-$15,000)
Number of $100 Staff Surprises Yet to Give Away:
Millions
Will you—your company, your neighborhood, or your book club—sponsor a $100 Staff Surprise Day with Jane's Fund and see for yourself the heroes who serve students in our community?
Because $100 and a lot of love can help increase both teacher retention and school morale.
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