Photo Courtesy of Business Wire
SONIC Drive-In and illustrious actress Sheryl Lee Ralph are partnering during Teacher Appreciation Week to support all public school educators nationwide.
According to a press release, the partnership aims to provide public school teachers with the proper materials cardinal to maintaining their students’ interest in learning. To do so, the SONIC Foundation vowed to donate up to $1.5 million to DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization that allows people to donate directly to public school teachers in the U.S. who submit donation requests for their classrooms.
The SONIC Foundation will match each public donation to teachers’ requests on DonorsChoose by 50 percent.
SONIC customers can support teachers by donating directly to DonorsChoose or purchasing their favorite drink from the restaurant. The SONIC Limeades for Learning initiative donates a portion of each SONIC drink, slushie or shake purchase to the SONIC Foundation, which puts its proceeds toward education.
“Public school teachers have dedicated their lived to inspiring America’s youth, and we must ensure they have all the tools they need as they shape the hearts and minds of our children,” Ralph, an award-winning actress, said. “I’m thrilled to partner with SONIC Drive-In for Teacher Appreciation Week to encourage people to come together and thank our educators by making a small contribution to get them the materials they desperately need.”
Ralph, who plays elementary school teacher Barbara Howard on the hit show Abbott Elementary, posted about her partnership on Instagram.
“SONIC is invested in supporting the local communities served by our more than 3,500 locations, and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made over the past 14 years through Limeades for Learning,” Lori Abou Habib, Chief Marketing Officer of SONIC, said. “This Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope our SONIC guests will join us in celebrating teachers by donating to a classroom request on DonorsChoose on May 9 or by grabbing their favorite SONIC drink to have a portion of the purchase go towards helping a nearby public school.”
Furthermore, teachers, faculty or staff at K-12 institutions or degree-granting universities are eligible to enroll in the SONIC Teachers’ Circle rewards program, where they can receive a free cheeseburger with their purchase.
According to the CEO of DonorsChoose, Alix Guerrier, teachers continuously face challenges amid their attempts to educate and keep students engaged in the classrooms.
“SONIC Drive-In’s donation match on May 9 for Teacher Appreciation Week sends a clear, powerful message: we’re dedicated to uplifting our educators, and we have their back,” Guerrier said.