Genie for a day, Salesforce fulfills IPS teachers' wishes

Some teachers clapped and cheered, while others cried as the news sunk in.

Salesforce announced Thursday that it would give $100,000 to pay for every project an IPS teacher had submitted on DonorsChoose.org. Books, iPads, microscopes, headphones, field trips. All of it.

About 150 projects from 30 schools were fully funded in a heartbeat, officials with Salesforce, DonorsChoose and IPS announced at Center for Inquiry, 545 E. 19th St.

"We're so inspired by what you do every day, and to be able to support that in some way is exciting to us, so thank you for what you do," Scott McCorkle, CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, told teachers assembled in a classroom Thursday morning.

In addition to the financial contribution, Salesforce employees have committed to donating 500 hours of their time to serve local schools.

"The impact of this gift is incredible and truly immeasurable," said Andrea Hunley, administrator of Center for Inquiry's three campuses.

DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit organization that allows people to donate directly to public school classroom projects nationwide. Founded in 2000, it was among the first civic crowdfunding platforms of its kind.

"One music teacher just wants a new rug for her classroom (complete with musical notes), which sounds simple, but it's a teaching tool," said Hunley.

Teachers lined up to thank McCorkle and Kirk Smiley, senior group director with DonorsChoose, after the announcement.

Stephanie Caldwell teaches life skills to students with severe disabilities. For months, she's been raising money to purchase an adaptive bicycle for her students, which will allow them to participate in more school activities. The price tag: $5,000. She still had about $1,200 to go, and it seemed insurmountable just a few days ago.

Caldwell thanked McCorkle for the donation, crying as she hugged him. "Thank you so much. I want to tell you we put out there in faith for a grant ... and you guys helped fund it today."

Mary Alice Dawson, who teaches language and literature to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, said many of her students don't have access to technology at home. She sought money for iPads on DonorsChoose.org, and the donation means her classroom will have nine iPads for students to share.

"I'll have one for every two students now," she told McCorkle and Smiley. "In a perfect world, I'd have one for every student, but you know what? I'm so grateful I can't stand it."

For McCorkle, that kind of response speaks to the importance of corporate support in the community.

"It's inspiring and energizing to be part of the community helping these great teachers," he said. Salesforce has about 1,200 employees in Indiana.

Smiley, based in Indianapolis, deflected any praise. "All those teachers standing behind you are the real heroes."

He said the beauty of DonorsChoose is that it lets teachers get some of their basic needs met, but it also lets them submit ideas for experiences, field trips and technology they would never be able to get otherwise for their students.

Adam Collins, deputy mayor for economic development, said, "As a city, we're always at our best when civic and community leaders are able to come together to accomplish and tackle pressing issues." That includes providing a talented and skilled workforce to meet the needs of a new economy, he said.

Call Star reporter Maureen Gilmer at (317) 444-6879. Follow her on Twitter: @MaureenCGilmer.