826michigan asks $8.26 for 8/26 for its efforts to bolster youth literacy locally
826michigan, a non-profit dedicated to youth literacy efforts, is hoping to raise some cash in an aptly named online fundraiser: "$8.26 for 8/26."
Now through Thursday - the organization's figurative birthday ("826" actually refers to the location of the original 826 outpost at 826 Valencia in San Francisco) - 826michigan is requesting donations of $8.26 from the community.
Robert Schuster tutors a young student at 826Michigan. 826 might not charge its students money, but reaching 2,000 students a year isn't free, said executive director Amanda Uhle.
Courtesy of 826Michigan
The inaugural $8.26 event is entirely virtual. Executive Director Amanda Uhle said the Ann Arbor center at 115 E. Liberty St. downtown used to host community events in honor of Youth Literacy Day - a title 826National declared itself and designated for Aug. 26.
If sent via PayPal, the organization is requesting just the $8.26. But if donors text "WRITE" to 20222, they'll see a $10 charge on their next phone bill, with the extra $1.74 going to a service fee.
826michigan, which has had a center in Ann Arbor for five years, operates on three basic beliefs, Uhle said.
The first is that writing is important for every student, whether the student is a star or struggling. The second is that its programming must always be free and should be associated with learning a lifelong skill. Third is that children don't get enough opportunities for one-on-one learning with an adult, not in school - and too many times, not at home either.
Between in-school programs and drop-in tutoring, 826michigan serves about 2,000 kids in Southeast Michigan every year and regularly publishes anthologies featuring student works.
“Just because what we offer is free doesn’t mean that it’s free to do,” Uhle said, hence the fundraising drive.
Uhle said 826michigan hopes to bring in $5,000 from the effort, which will go right back into education.
Once the fundraising drive ends, the money will be distributed evenly to the eight 826 chapters across the country.
James David Dickson can be reached at JamesDickson@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Ken
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.
Having grown up in Cleveland, going to U-W-Madison and raising children and seeing the approach to education in Minnesota, California, Norway, Singapore and Savannah, an organization like 826.org is more than welcome. It appears to me that 826 has found a much needed niche. Today's world is in some ways no different than that of the past, yet in other ways the world is very different. 826 is able to bring some of the old world ethics and goals into an instant communication and electronic world to keep kids interested, motivated and progressing in their education. It is more than appreciated by me. I hope the fund raising works well...
Jeff Hall
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
This is a creative, grassroots way of fundraising, and I hope it is a huge success. Amanda Uhle is a well-respected, passionate executive director and a gem in the Ann Arbor community. Under her leadership,826michigan has become a terrific local resource for assisting kids of all ages with their writing skills.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 11 p.m.
well we didn't have a game system in the house nor a computer, and the only phone was the house phone. We did have cable tv but we didn't watch it all day. The choices were go play outside or read inside (or rollerskate in the basement if friends came over). My mother was always reading. Perhaps if more parents read they could be an example for their kids.
Erik Gable
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 7:40 p.m.
Whatever your position on local school politics, 826michigan -- which is independent of any school district -- provides a great service, for both Ann Arbor kids and students from other districts.
Ted Annis
Tue, Aug 24, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.
Thanks for the effort. But... the citizens pay a ton of public school taxes and many expect the public schools to do this and do it well. After all, the Ann Arbor Schools have 86 people that earn more thatn $100,000/year. How about spending your time and money on pressuring the Ann Arbor Public Schools to implement the January 2010 State law of Act 981, which incorpoates Race-to-the-Top principles. It has such radical requirements as performance measurements and performance-based advancement.