Local family pledges $50,000 to Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation's Million Reasons campaign

“Ensuring that every person could receive a rich and well-rounded education was, for Dr. Norton, a critical step in securing a more equal and just society,” according to a statement released by the family.

The One Million Reasons Campaign is a fundraising effort by the AAPSEF to raise $1 million for AAPS for the 2010-11 academic year. The family will match every staff donation up to $2.99 one-to-one and every donation above $3 two-to-one.

Brit Satchwell, president of the Ann Arbor Education Association, the district's teachers union, said donations such as the Nortons’ help to give the district independence from unpredictable state funding. He said community donors are providing students with opportunities that could be cut due to budget restrictions.

“With this matching gift opportunity, my fellow teachers can now make their gift go even further in a colleague’s classroom,” he said. “I urge my colleagues to give what they can to help support the students we all serve.”

Staff and faculty will be able to donate a portion of their paycheck directly to the AAPSEF. The Norton family has pledged to make sure its matching donation will go to the same area designated by the staff or faculty member.

Dr. Todd Roberts, superintendent of AAPS, said last week the One Million Reasons campaign had raised more than $500,000 and was still receiving donations. He said the Norton family’s pledge illustrates “that we are all in this together.”

“The grants we receive from AAPSEF really make a difference in our teachers’ work and in our classroom,” Roberts said.