#StraightOuttaCrayons Dulles School Fund
Donation protected
THE GOAL:
The mission of #StraightOuttaCrayons is to bridge the connection between donors and underfunded schools to (1) relieve the financial burden of purchasing supplies for teachers and (2) level the playing field for children who attend these schools by ensuring that they have the resources that they need to succeed, and that they deserve.
Last year, #StraightOuttaCrayons matched over 150 teachers from high-poverty schools across the country with individual sponsors to fund their class wishlists. This year, the campaign is focused on raising funds for the Dulles School of Excellence in the South Side of Chicago. Dulles received $275,000 less funding from the city than expected so #StraightOuttaCrayons has played a crucial role in helping the school create and maintain a viable learning environment for its 700 students (pre-k- 8th grade).
THE BENEFICIARY:
Dulles School of Excellence
Pre K- 8th Grade
6311 S. Calumet
Chicago, IL. 60637
- Dulles primarily serves children who live in the Parkway Gardens housing project, which is located on Chicago’s most violent block (At one point, the school had to cancel after school sports because of homicides directly outside of the school).
- 100% of students are from low income families.
- 10% of students are homeless.
- Many students have PTSD from witnessing gun violence.
- Children come to school unfed and often without underwear, coats, etc.
- Students do not come to school with their own school supplies.
- The student:teacher ratio is 21:1 (the state average is 16:1).
- The student population has grown by 48% in five years.
- The public funding provided to Dulles for the 2018-2019 school year was $275,000 less than expected.
- The school doesn’t have funding for critical supplies - pencils, paper, books, folders, tissues, crayons, workbooks, food for kids who come to school unfed, etc. Computers are old and don’t work with necessary learning programs, smart boards are old and broken, desks and chairs are broken and mismatched, classrooms don’t have tables, etc. (see enclosed photos)
HOW IT STARTED:
In February 2018, I launched the #StraightOuttaCrayons initiative with the goal of matching teachers at underfunded schools with sponsors to purchase critically-needed classroom supplies that teachers would otherwise have to pay for out-of-pocket.
Using my @TalkThirtyToMe Instagram account to solicit funding and support for the project, I was able to match 150 teachers across the country were matched with sponsors who funded nearly $100,000 of school supplies.
A teacher who was sponsored through the program informed me about the situation at the Dulles School of Excellence in the South Side of Chicago and put me in touch with the school’s administration. Subsequent to my conversation with the school’s Assistant Principal, Kahinde Longmire, I decided to change the scope of #StraightOuttaCrayons and focus my full my attention and resources on school-wide funding for Dulles.
THE IMPACT:
During the last year, I have worked in close partnership with Mrs. Longmire to raise funds for Dulles and create strategies to best utilize the funds and resources.
A significant portion of the funds raised through the GoFundMe was used to purchase a new reading curriculum for Dulles. The curriculum has helped Dulles increase test scores and drastically improve reading comprehension levels.
In one first grade class, more than 15 students grew 6 reading levels this year, which is a huge feat and critically important for the students (students who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. Studies have also shown that 88% of students who fail to earn a high school diploma are struggling readers in third grade).
This campaign, in conjunction with incentive prizes purchased by donors from the #StraightOuttaCrayons Amazon Wishlist, have also enabled Dulles to reach 98% attendance levels, which is unprecedented.
The #StraightOuttaCrayons GoFundMe has also enabled Dulles to fund:
-10 new smart boards for classrooms
-60 chrome books and 2 charging stations
- Brand new equipment and uniforms for the sports teams
- Shoes and costumes for a brand new dance program
-Test preparation materials that enabled Dulles students to get record-breaking scores on their state testing!!
- The Black History Month Assembly and family dinner
- Pi Day
- The Dulles Winter Wonderland Family Event
- Back to School Night
- Three teacher appreciation lunches
- The staff holiday party at the Chicago Sports Museum
- New furniture for classrooms
- Industrial rolling attendance prize carts (game changer )
- Prizes for students who achieved academic milestones
- Food, space heaters, coats, gloves, and other critical supplies that were desperately needed by students/families
- 2019 Dulles cardigans for the graduating class
- Two huge Tiger Store events (the Tiger Store is an incentive program where students can spend their earned Tiger Points)
- And many, many other things (check out the Instagram link below for photos and details!)
LOOKING AHEAD:
We still have a long way to go and several hundred thousand dollars of needs to fill, but I am optimistic that we will get there!
I hope you will consider supporting this project. With your help, we can level the playing field for these children and provide them with the resources that they need to succeed, and that they deserve. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. MONETARY DONATIONS:
You’re obviously on the gofundme page so you don’t need the link because you donate here, but for reference it’s gofundme.com/Dulles
2. BUY SUPPLIES FROM THE SCHOOL’S WISHLIST:
The Amazon Wishlist includes critically-needed classroom supplies (paper, pencils, crayons, etc), snacks and clothing (kids often come to school unfed, without underwear, etc), and toys that are used as prizes for attendance/strong performance/good behavior, etc.
The wishlist can be accessed at www.StraightOuttaCrayons.com
3. DONATE IPADS AND LAPTOPS:
If you would like to donate an iPad or computer in good, working condition, please email me at [email redacted]
4. COLLECT IN-KIND DONATIONS:
- If you know of any businesses that would like to donate supplies to the school, please email me at [email redacted].
- If you would like to have a book or supply or clothing drive, please email me at [email redacted]
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more frequent updates and information on this project, follow instagram.com/StraightOuttaCrayons
THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!
DONATIONS IN ACTION:
 

The mission of #StraightOuttaCrayons is to bridge the connection between donors and underfunded schools to (1) relieve the financial burden of purchasing supplies for teachers and (2) level the playing field for children who attend these schools by ensuring that they have the resources that they need to succeed, and that they deserve.
Last year, #StraightOuttaCrayons matched over 150 teachers from high-poverty schools across the country with individual sponsors to fund their class wishlists. This year, the campaign is focused on raising funds for the Dulles School of Excellence in the South Side of Chicago. Dulles received $275,000 less funding from the city than expected so #StraightOuttaCrayons has played a crucial role in helping the school create and maintain a viable learning environment for its 700 students (pre-k- 8th grade).
THE BENEFICIARY:
Dulles School of Excellence
Pre K- 8th Grade
6311 S. Calumet
Chicago, IL. 60637
- Dulles primarily serves children who live in the Parkway Gardens housing project, which is located on Chicago’s most violent block (At one point, the school had to cancel after school sports because of homicides directly outside of the school).
- 100% of students are from low income families.
- 10% of students are homeless.
- Many students have PTSD from witnessing gun violence.
- Children come to school unfed and often without underwear, coats, etc.
- Students do not come to school with their own school supplies.
- The student:teacher ratio is 21:1 (the state average is 16:1).
- The student population has grown by 48% in five years.
- The public funding provided to Dulles for the 2018-2019 school year was $275,000 less than expected.
- The school doesn’t have funding for critical supplies - pencils, paper, books, folders, tissues, crayons, workbooks, food for kids who come to school unfed, etc. Computers are old and don’t work with necessary learning programs, smart boards are old and broken, desks and chairs are broken and mismatched, classrooms don’t have tables, etc. (see enclosed photos)
HOW IT STARTED:
In February 2018, I launched the #StraightOuttaCrayons initiative with the goal of matching teachers at underfunded schools with sponsors to purchase critically-needed classroom supplies that teachers would otherwise have to pay for out-of-pocket.
Using my @TalkThirtyToMe Instagram account to solicit funding and support for the project, I was able to match 150 teachers across the country were matched with sponsors who funded nearly $100,000 of school supplies.
A teacher who was sponsored through the program informed me about the situation at the Dulles School of Excellence in the South Side of Chicago and put me in touch with the school’s administration. Subsequent to my conversation with the school’s Assistant Principal, Kahinde Longmire, I decided to change the scope of #StraightOuttaCrayons and focus my full my attention and resources on school-wide funding for Dulles.
THE IMPACT:
During the last year, I have worked in close partnership with Mrs. Longmire to raise funds for Dulles and create strategies to best utilize the funds and resources.
A significant portion of the funds raised through the GoFundMe was used to purchase a new reading curriculum for Dulles. The curriculum has helped Dulles increase test scores and drastically improve reading comprehension levels.
In one first grade class, more than 15 students grew 6 reading levels this year, which is a huge feat and critically important for the students (students who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. Studies have also shown that 88% of students who fail to earn a high school diploma are struggling readers in third grade).
This campaign, in conjunction with incentive prizes purchased by donors from the #StraightOuttaCrayons Amazon Wishlist, have also enabled Dulles to reach 98% attendance levels, which is unprecedented.
The #StraightOuttaCrayons GoFundMe has also enabled Dulles to fund:
-10 new smart boards for classrooms
-60 chrome books and 2 charging stations
- Brand new equipment and uniforms for the sports teams
- Shoes and costumes for a brand new dance program
-Test preparation materials that enabled Dulles students to get record-breaking scores on their state testing!!
- The Black History Month Assembly and family dinner
- Pi Day
- The Dulles Winter Wonderland Family Event
- Back to School Night
- Three teacher appreciation lunches
- The staff holiday party at the Chicago Sports Museum
- New furniture for classrooms
- Industrial rolling attendance prize carts (game changer )
- Prizes for students who achieved academic milestones
- Food, space heaters, coats, gloves, and other critical supplies that were desperately needed by students/families
- 2019 Dulles cardigans for the graduating class
- Two huge Tiger Store events (the Tiger Store is an incentive program where students can spend their earned Tiger Points)
- And many, many other things (check out the Instagram link below for photos and details!)
LOOKING AHEAD:
We still have a long way to go and several hundred thousand dollars of needs to fill, but I am optimistic that we will get there!
I hope you will consider supporting this project. With your help, we can level the playing field for these children and provide them with the resources that they need to succeed, and that they deserve. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. MONETARY DONATIONS:
You’re obviously on the gofundme page so you don’t need the link because you donate here, but for reference it’s gofundme.com/Dulles
2. BUY SUPPLIES FROM THE SCHOOL’S WISHLIST:
The Amazon Wishlist includes critically-needed classroom supplies (paper, pencils, crayons, etc), snacks and clothing (kids often come to school unfed, without underwear, etc), and toys that are used as prizes for attendance/strong performance/good behavior, etc.
The wishlist can be accessed at www.StraightOuttaCrayons.com
3. DONATE IPADS AND LAPTOPS:
If you would like to donate an iPad or computer in good, working condition, please email me at [email redacted]
4. COLLECT IN-KIND DONATIONS:
- If you know of any businesses that would like to donate supplies to the school, please email me at [email redacted].
- If you would like to have a book or supply or clothing drive, please email me at [email redacted]
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more frequent updates and information on this project, follow instagram.com/StraightOuttaCrayons
THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!
DONATIONS IN ACTION:
 Organizer
TalkThirty ToMe
Organizer
Chicago, IL
