Sacramento Region Literacy Challenge

In partnership with DonorsChoose.org and GOOD, University of Phoenix challenges you to invest in local classrooms to help improve the Sacramento region’s literacy rate. In the region, only 57% of third graders are reading at grade level. We believe that with community support, we can change this reality.

We’re looking for ideas from all members of the Sacramento regional community – teachers, parents, University of Phoenix alumni and students, everyday citizens –to improve K-12 education in the Sacramento region, starting with a focus on the most fundamental building block of education—literacy.

Through focused education-related philanthropy, University of Phoenix uses its unique business assets and expertise to effect positive change in K-12 schools. We are giving you the opportunity to be an investor in the Sacramento region’s education system. We’re awarding a total of $50,000 worth of DonorsChoose.org gift cards to empower over 100 people to invest directly in Sacramento regional educational projects.

Submit your idea between September 25 and October 26, noon PT. The first 100 approved submissions will each get a $100 gift card. Additionally, every week of submissions, there will be a raffle among those who submitted that week for a $1,000 gift card. From October 30 to November 13, noon PT, the public will vote to choose the best ideas. The top-voted submission will win a $10,000 gift card, and the 10 runners-up will each win $2,500 gift cards. In total, $50,000 will be funneled back into your schools. Rally your colleagues and friends to get behind your effort and join the public in selecting the winners.

Connect with the challenge on Twitter @GOODmkr, on Facebook through the University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley Campus page and on DonorChoose.org’s GOOD profile.

Submission tips:

• Include a photo or video that represents your idea. Photos should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB. To include a video, use a YouTube URL.
• Describe how the Sacramento regional community can best support its schools and improve the area’s literacy rate, and why you want to be an investor in education in the Sacramento region.
• If you have any questions, please review these FAQs or send us an email at maker@goodinc.com.

• This Challenge is open for submissions from September 25 noon PT to October 26 noon PT.
• Ideas will be featured on this page and public voting will be open from October 30 noon PT to November 13 noon PT.
• US-based individuals, nonprofits and groups are eligible to apply. Current DonorsChoose.org teachers are welcome to apply, though being on DonorsChoose.org is not a requirement.
• Residents of NY, FL and RI are not eligible to apply.
• Individuals must be 18 or older to submit an idea. You must be 13 or older to vote.
• Winners will receive DonorsChoose.org gift codes that can be redeemed at http://www.donorschoose.org/redeem.
• Winners must spend gift codes on projects that benefit the Sacramento region in CA.
• The gift codes must be used by February 27, 2013.
• The project that receives the most votes will win a gift code worth $10,000. Ten runners-up from the voting period will win a gift code worth $2,500. The first 100 approved submissions each get a gift code worth $100. Every week of submissions, there will be a raffle among all those who submitted that week for a gift code worth $1,000.
• All winners must begin redemption of DonorsChoose.org gift codes within three months of receipt by the winners, and all gift codes must be fully redeemed within one year of receipt by the winners.
• In order to vote, log in with your GOOD account. If you don’t have a GOOD account, it’s free to join. All you need is an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed a link that you need to click in order to validate your address.
• Read all the rules.