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National PTA Awards $2,500 Grant for COVID-19 Relief to Obama Magnet with Help from TikTok
February 11, 2021
Obama Magnet uses funds from a $2,500 National PTA grant for noise reduction headphones (purchased through Office Depot), and classroom surge protectors to facilitate virtual and in-person learning as well as tables to reconfigure the school auditorium to serve as an alternative classroom that allows for social distancing. (The laptop shown was purchased through the initial $5,000 grant.) |
National PTA has awarded Obama Magnet PTA with a $2,500 grant to continue their efforts to meet critical needs of students, families and teachers in their school community due to COVID-19. The funding is made possible by TikTok, a short-form video app and PTA Proud National Sponsor. The funding is in addition to the $5,000 grant National PTA awarded Obama Magnet PTA in 2020 to empower their COVID-19 relief efforts.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and National PTA and PTAs nationwide remain committed to making sure students, families, teachers and schools have what they need during this challenging time," said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. "Obama Magnet PTA has been working hard every day to provide essential resources, tools and information to support families and educators amid the pandemic. With the grant, the Obama Magnet PTA will be able to continue to provide critical support to their school community."
With the initial $5,000 grant, the Obama Magnet PTA was able to purchase laptops as well as a storage unit and charging harness to provide support for families experiencing connectivity issues. The additional $2,500 from the National PTA has been applied to addressing technical and logistical challenges that must be addressed as the school is now attempting a hybrid-reopening. This funding is being used for student headphones with noise reduction microphones that are needed during hybrid Zoom sessions, classroom laptop surge protectors to be used as charging stations, and portable folding tables to reconfigure the school auditorium to serve as an alternative classroom site that allows for increased social distancing.
"We greatly appreciate the generous support of the National PTA and TikTok," said John Johnson Ed.S., principal of Obama Magnet Elementary. "The funding has not only helped support academic achievement, but also provide for the social and emotional well-being and mental health of our students and their families."
Obama Magnet PTA's grants are part of over $1.5 million in funding that National PTA has provided to PTAs across the country for COVID-19 relief efforts.
"With the grant funding, PTAs will be able to continue their important and impactful work,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “We are grateful to our sponsors, including TikTok, for enabling us to provide resources to PTAs to help them care for their school communities."
In addition to these COVID-19 relief grants, TikTok also supports PTAs nationwide with program grants and resources to educate families about online safety. TikTok is a supporting sponsor of National PTA’s PTA Connected initiative.
About PTA
PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.