Magnets with a Mission: Teen Driver Safety
Donation protected
Drivers' Ed. For me, it was a Rite of Passage. A Symbol of Responsibility. A very important step in achieving the independence of having a Driver's License!
As a City Resident in Syracuse, I was able to take the SCSD Drivers' Ed course with Mr. John Hohm at Corcoran High School last summer. enjoying the City Resident discounted tuition of $405. (Believe it or not, most other Driver Ed programs offered in CNY cost over $100 more than this!)
Last summer while in class, I noticed that the vast majority of teens taking the class with Mr. Hohm didn't attend SCSD high schools at all. Either they lived here in Syracuse like me (and attended private schools) or they were from surrounding suburbs.
When I asked WHY SO FEW SCSD HIGH SCHOOL TEENS, I learned that there was no funding source dedicated to offsetting the cost of this program for those who couldn't afford it. Taking this class was IMPORTANT to me. I felt strongly it was important for ALL TEENS to take and I wanted to find a way to help.
This is how Magnets with a Mission got started. I was a terribly SLOW driver when I first started learning how to drive. I often hesitated at intersections. Other drivers grew very impatient with me, honking and gesturing and making me more nervous than ever. My Dad made me some "Student Driver" magnets for my Mom's car and, suddenly, other drivers gave me "space"... almost like a bubble around the vehicle. Without all the honking, my anxiety about driving lessened and my confidence grew. I wanted others to know this experience...to have this feeling of security.
Last fall, I reached out to Mr. Hohm to tell him my plan to sell sets of these "Student Driver" magnets to other Drivers' Ed students as a means to fund scholarships for more SCSD students to enroll in his class. He has enthusiastically supported me ever since. He kindly allowed me to address his students. The Drivers' Ed instructors at Bishop Grimes and Bishop Ludden invited me to do the same. My school, Christian Brothers Academy, has supported my efforts by allowing me to man tables with my magnets at school events. Local businesses, including Branch's Driving School, Bill Rapp Superstore, and the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association have generously supported my efforts. I AM VERY GRATEFUL to all those who have supported me to date and helped me to raise over $1,200. I am reaching out through this campaign because YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER!
I JUST learned that the future of this program may be in jeopardy when the current contract ends in June 2020. I am both striving to fund as many scholarships as possible for the 2019-2020 school year and to raise community awareness about the potential termination of this invaluable resource for SCSD students. YOU CAN HELP by purchasing a set of 4 Student Driver Magnets for $15 by emailing me your name, address and contact info at [email redacted] , encouraging the Syracuse City School District to renew the Drivers' Ed course offering, or by making a donation to this campaign. Contributions of any kind and any size are GREATLY APPRECIATED! All proceeds will be forwarded to the SCSD Finance Office for Drivers' Ed tuition scholarships.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
As a City Resident in Syracuse, I was able to take the SCSD Drivers' Ed course with Mr. John Hohm at Corcoran High School last summer. enjoying the City Resident discounted tuition of $405. (Believe it or not, most other Driver Ed programs offered in CNY cost over $100 more than this!)
Last summer while in class, I noticed that the vast majority of teens taking the class with Mr. Hohm didn't attend SCSD high schools at all. Either they lived here in Syracuse like me (and attended private schools) or they were from surrounding suburbs.
When I asked WHY SO FEW SCSD HIGH SCHOOL TEENS, I learned that there was no funding source dedicated to offsetting the cost of this program for those who couldn't afford it. Taking this class was IMPORTANT to me. I felt strongly it was important for ALL TEENS to take and I wanted to find a way to help.
This is how Magnets with a Mission got started. I was a terribly SLOW driver when I first started learning how to drive. I often hesitated at intersections. Other drivers grew very impatient with me, honking and gesturing and making me more nervous than ever. My Dad made me some "Student Driver" magnets for my Mom's car and, suddenly, other drivers gave me "space"... almost like a bubble around the vehicle. Without all the honking, my anxiety about driving lessened and my confidence grew. I wanted others to know this experience...to have this feeling of security.
Last fall, I reached out to Mr. Hohm to tell him my plan to sell sets of these "Student Driver" magnets to other Drivers' Ed students as a means to fund scholarships for more SCSD students to enroll in his class. He has enthusiastically supported me ever since. He kindly allowed me to address his students. The Drivers' Ed instructors at Bishop Grimes and Bishop Ludden invited me to do the same. My school, Christian Brothers Academy, has supported my efforts by allowing me to man tables with my magnets at school events. Local businesses, including Branch's Driving School, Bill Rapp Superstore, and the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association have generously supported my efforts. I AM VERY GRATEFUL to all those who have supported me to date and helped me to raise over $1,200. I am reaching out through this campaign because YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER!
I JUST learned that the future of this program may be in jeopardy when the current contract ends in June 2020. I am both striving to fund as many scholarships as possible for the 2019-2020 school year and to raise community awareness about the potential termination of this invaluable resource for SCSD students. YOU CAN HELP by purchasing a set of 4 Student Driver Magnets for $15 by emailing me your name, address and contact info at [email redacted] , encouraging the Syracuse City School District to renew the Drivers' Ed course offering, or by making a donation to this campaign. Contributions of any kind and any size are GREATLY APPRECIATED! All proceeds will be forwarded to the SCSD Finance Office for Drivers' Ed tuition scholarships.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Organizer
George DeLorenzo
Organizer
Syracuse, NY
