Elisabeth Milich’s second-grade classroom at Whispering Wind Academy is full of color. 

Reams of colored cardstock are stacked inside the cabinet, numerous colored pencils and crayons are arranged inside bins above the bookshelf, and students sit painting clay pots — sometimes using every color. 

During the 2017-2018 school year (and every year prior), Milich said anything with color came out of her paycheck. 

Now, she doesn’t pay for any of it — snacks, craft supplies, paper, posters, and anything else she might need now or in the future are covered through the support of the Classroom Giving Initiative, a new vision from one man across the country to support Arizona classrooms, teachers, and students. 

Facebook post brings unexpected results  

As the #RedForEd movement was heating up in March 2018, Milich’s frustrations about her low teacher salary went viral when she posted them to the court of public opinion: Facebook. 

Milich added some classroom supplies to her weekend shopping list before she picked up her pay stub for the next school year. The document displayed her new salary: $35,621.25. Her salary was up by $131 after taking a few professional development classes. 

“I thought it was such a joke,” Milich said. “I make $35,000 a year and still have to buy basic supplies for my classroom and take care of my family.”

Milich took a picture of a portion of the pay stub and posted it on Facebook — writing without her husband’s salary, she could never survive as a teacher in this state. 

Her story was picked up by azcentral.com and later by news organizations across the nation. “Arizona teacher posts salary on social media: ‘I need a college degree to make this?'” the azcentral.com headline read. 

Ben Adam, a news production freelancer and real estate business owner based in New York City, saw Milich’s story on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” an HBO talk show posted to YouTube in August. 

“I thought to myself, I’m sure with all of the people that have seen her story on TV, in the paper, on social media, and YouTube, somebody has contacted her to say they want to help,” Adam said. But Adam decided to send her a message to make sure.

“I have three kids; I’m a working person — I can’t imagine trying to live, buy supplies, and support my family on $35,000 a year,” Adam said. 

When Milich responded to say she hadn’t received any help, Adam asked for a list of supplies she needed for the rest of the semester. He put her list into Amazon and sent everything she needed straight to her classroom, deducting it as a charitable contribution through his real estate business, All Man Corp.

As the semester came to a close in December, Adam reached out to get her list for the next semester and, again, sent everything she needed — books, snacks, paper, tape. 

Milich and her second-grade class sent Adam — or their “New York friend,” as the class knows him — a thank-you poster. He hung it in his house and sent a letter back, which now hangs near the entrance of Milich’s classroom. 

Realizing the impact he could make on one classroom, Adam adopted five more Valley-area classrooms, and launched a website that outlines his inspiration and goals for the initiative, hoping to attract other businesses to get involved.

‘Life-changing’ support  

The effects of the extra supplies on the classroom are multifaceted, Milich said. 

Without the financial stress of paying for supplies out of pocket, Milich said she can be more creative in her classroom. 

“A simple thing like a paintbrush and set of paints changes everything,” Milich said. “I have three kids; I have other things I have to buy, so I don’t have money to just go on a whim and buy every color of paint and paintbrushes when our paints get old.”

Before, Milich would have to save painting activities and other crafts for special occasions — her options were limited without enough paper and old, dried-up paint. The new supplies allow the students in her class a creative outlet to explore.  

“We are thankful because now we get to paint a lot and make lots of beautiful crafts,” said Habiba Hariz, a student in Milich’s class, adding the Wheat Thins also were a nice treat.

“I think he is the nicest person ever,” Mina Stevens, a student in Milich’s second-grade class, said. “He is our hero here at Whispering Wind Academy.”

Courtney Thompson, a high school English teacher at North Canyon High School, is another teacher whose classroom was adopted as part of the Classroom Giving Initiative. 

North Canyon is a Title I school, and the majority of Thompson’s students come from families with low incomes.

“Just buying supplies at the beginning of the school year is a stress,” Thomspon said. 

While her school district, Paradise Valley Unified School District, gives each teacher $50 to $100 in supplies annually, Thompson said she spends at least $400 in supplies each year. The class already has used more than 250 pens and pencils this year, Thompson said. 

“I watch day after day as teachers pour their hearts into these kids,” Thompson said. “I want to give them the world because they are up against something they have no control over. To know someone else wants to support me in that is overwhelming.”

Thompson and Milich both said their students notice that there are people who care about their education.

That is what Arizona kinds need to know right now, Milich said.  

Building relationships of support

Adam said he hopes to find local businesses that will join the initiative to support Arizona classrooms by adopting or sponsoring other teachers in need. 

With the help of teachers like Milich and Thompson, Adam identifies teachers who need support and uploads the Amazon shopping cart with their list of needs directly to the website so anyone can contribute by ordering supplies that will be sent directly to the teacher. Businesses can choose to donate specific supplies or to fully fund classrooms. 

Rather than donating to an organization, he said sponsoring classrooms helps the businesses or group build direct relationships with the students, so the students know a person or business in their community supports them. 

“For our kids, to know that these businesses that they drive by and frequent and are supporting are also supporting them is really important to tether people to Phoenix, Arizona,” Thompson said. “It hurts my heart when I hear these kids who want to be teachers or nurses say that they don’t want to do it in this state because they don’t feel supported.”  

Adam said he wants to expand the initiative nationally and create opportunities to strengthen the relationship through thank-you letters and field trips to the businesses.

First, he wants to get businesses in the Valley on-board. 

“To show kids, teachers and school districts that our local businesses are as invested in education as someone across the country is could be really revolutionary for the culture of education in Arizona,” Milich said. 

Are you an Arizona teacher who needs some extra help or a business owner interested in supporting the initiative? Visit the Classroom Giving website or email [email protected]

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow the reporter on Twitter @graceoldham123 and subscribe to azcentral.com to support local journalism. 

 

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