PS 87 Mandarin Program-Donna's Bday
Donation protected
Hi friends!
Next month, my mother, Donna Anaman, will be turning 63, and I am writing to see if you could help me contribute to her birthday gift.
Ten years ago, Donna took over as the principal for P.S. 87, an elementary school in the Bronx. Being a public school principal in NYC is not an easy job, and over the past decade my Mom has faced many challenges. Not only did she have to deal with a litany of obstacles on the job, but also cope with the loss of her husband while fulfilling her duties as a mother. But Donna is a fighter, and over the years, I have watched her transform P.S. 87 into a flourishing school. Below are a few of her many achievements:
The Arts:
- By collaborating with organizations such as Education Through Music and Studio in a School, Donna has expanded the school’s arts program. P.S. 87 now has a full string orchestra, and student artwork has been exhibited in both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Christie’s. In 2015, the New York State Art Teacher’s Association gave Donna their Artist Advocate Award for her work in promoting the arts at P.S. 87.
Extracurriculars:
- Since her arrival, Donna has bolstered P.S. 87’s extracurricular offerings by adding programs in robotics and Mandarin. The Mandarin program started a few years ago as a weekend enrichment course. It was a huge success, but unfortunately Donna was unable to secure a teacher for the long term and the program was cancelled. However, by collaborating with My Chinese Teacher, a video conferencing software that connects Chinese teachers in China with students across the world, Donna was able to reinstate the program last year and is looking to make it part of the curriculum for grades 3-5 (reaching over 300 children).
Although these programs are beloved by the parents and students of P.S. 87, they are by no means permanent. At the end of every year, Donna is never certain if there will be room for them in next year’s budget. Therefore, for her 63rd birthday, I would like to raise $12,000 – the cost of running the Mandarin program for one year. I’ve chosen the Mandarin program because it is very meaningful for both my mother and me. She is the one who encouraged me to take Mandarin in middle school, and since then, my ability to speak the language has proven an invaluable asset, especially as a student of color. This is something my mom had the foresight to recognize with me, and she wants to give her students the same opportunities I had.
I will be putting some of my own money towards this gift, and I invite you now to contribute as well. In order to collect donations, I will be using GoFundMe because it is the easiest platform for friends and family to donate and write any messages to Donna if they so choose. Every GoFundMe campaign needs a goal, so I have set mine to $12,000 because that’s how much the program costs. However, it is just a target and any contribution is welcome and has the potential to impact hundreds of children.
Donna is aware that this is something I’m considering doing, but that’s about it. Her birthday is on August 11th, so I would appreciate if your contribution could arrive before then.
Let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best,
Malik
****Note: I will withdraw the money raised to my bank account and then write a check to the school on everyone's behalf.
Next month, my mother, Donna Anaman, will be turning 63, and I am writing to see if you could help me contribute to her birthday gift.
Ten years ago, Donna took over as the principal for P.S. 87, an elementary school in the Bronx. Being a public school principal in NYC is not an easy job, and over the past decade my Mom has faced many challenges. Not only did she have to deal with a litany of obstacles on the job, but also cope with the loss of her husband while fulfilling her duties as a mother. But Donna is a fighter, and over the years, I have watched her transform P.S. 87 into a flourishing school. Below are a few of her many achievements:
The Arts:
- By collaborating with organizations such as Education Through Music and Studio in a School, Donna has expanded the school’s arts program. P.S. 87 now has a full string orchestra, and student artwork has been exhibited in both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Christie’s. In 2015, the New York State Art Teacher’s Association gave Donna their Artist Advocate Award for her work in promoting the arts at P.S. 87.
Extracurriculars:
- Since her arrival, Donna has bolstered P.S. 87’s extracurricular offerings by adding programs in robotics and Mandarin. The Mandarin program started a few years ago as a weekend enrichment course. It was a huge success, but unfortunately Donna was unable to secure a teacher for the long term and the program was cancelled. However, by collaborating with My Chinese Teacher, a video conferencing software that connects Chinese teachers in China with students across the world, Donna was able to reinstate the program last year and is looking to make it part of the curriculum for grades 3-5 (reaching over 300 children).
Although these programs are beloved by the parents and students of P.S. 87, they are by no means permanent. At the end of every year, Donna is never certain if there will be room for them in next year’s budget. Therefore, for her 63rd birthday, I would like to raise $12,000 – the cost of running the Mandarin program for one year. I’ve chosen the Mandarin program because it is very meaningful for both my mother and me. She is the one who encouraged me to take Mandarin in middle school, and since then, my ability to speak the language has proven an invaluable asset, especially as a student of color. This is something my mom had the foresight to recognize with me, and she wants to give her students the same opportunities I had.
I will be putting some of my own money towards this gift, and I invite you now to contribute as well. In order to collect donations, I will be using GoFundMe because it is the easiest platform for friends and family to donate and write any messages to Donna if they so choose. Every GoFundMe campaign needs a goal, so I have set mine to $12,000 because that’s how much the program costs. However, it is just a target and any contribution is welcome and has the potential to impact hundreds of children.
Donna is aware that this is something I’m considering doing, but that’s about it. Her birthday is on August 11th, so I would appreciate if your contribution could arrive before then.
Let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best,
Malik
****Note: I will withdraw the money raised to my bank account and then write a check to the school on everyone's behalf.
Organizer
Malik Brown
Organizer
New York, NY
