Eastway Elementary Awarded a Celebrity Surprise!
Principal Kendral Flowers and Teacher Sarah Myrick presented with $100,000 on Ellen Show!
Sarah Myrick, a third-grade teacher at Eastway Elementary, discovered an opportunity to nominate her school to win one of 50 grants worth $100,000 each being given out this year thanks to Ellen DeGeneres and Target's Community Giving Program. The program is committed to education and helping students reach their potential. When Sarah first watched the story about the Whitney School she cried her way through the entire segment because the story and the school reminded her of her own beloved school, and what its staff does for its students. Sarah decided to write to Ellen and tell her school's story.
Ellen was so touched by her email, that Eastway Elementary was selected as one of the 50 Schools to receive the $100,000 grant. In addition to a staff dedicated to helping students and making a positive difference in their lives, the school met all the criteria necessary to qualify. Eastway Elementary is a Title One school with 98% of its students receiving free or reduced lunches, and many of their children live in shelters or are homeless.
Ellen invited Sarah Myrick and Principal Kendral Flowers out to a taping in Burbank, only telling them that she might want to feature them on her website. Little did they know that Ellen was planning on surprising them with not only the $100,000 grant from Target, but $500 Target gift cards for every teacher at the school, so that they can buy supplies for their own classroom.
Thank you Ellen...Thank you Target...And congratulations Eastway!
