Although ACE Cash Express is known throughout the community for providing payday loans and cash advances, the business has recently taken action to help out a relatively younger crowd: sixth graders at Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy.
According to AdoptAClassroom.org, teachers spend up to average $500 every year on school supplies. Knowing this, ACE Cash Express has decided for the first time to “adopt” all sixth grade classrooms at Osborn in order to raise funds needed to purchase school supplies.
“This is something that hits home for everyone here,” said center manager Jennedier Martinez. “We have kids that are going to school and we know school districts need help with funding. We want to get a little bit of extra money for school supplies or anything else they may need.”
Through AdoptAClassroom.org, Martinez reported that ACE Cash Express had originally learned about Claire Mezzapesa and her sixth grade class’ need for Junior Scholastic Science Magazine subscriptions.
“After reading why they needed to raise money, we felt like this was the best class to raise money for,” said Martinez. “They needed these supplies that would help them be more prepared for college and we wanted to help.”
Although it was Mezzapesa’s post that was primarily responsible for garnering the attention and ultimately the financial assistance of ACE Cash Express, the sixth grade teacher has since retired.
However, Martinez reported that her business still has plans to donate the funds to the other sixth grade teachers at Osborn, one of which is Ana Van Allen.
“The school already has plans to subscribe to Junior Scholastic Science Magazine, so these funds will be split equally among the sixth grade in order to go towards buying a Kids Discover magazine subscription,” said Van Allen. “These magazines will teach our students even more about the cultures we study.”
Since the beginning of this month, ACE Cash Express has conducted various outreach efforts to raise $416.30—more than halfway towards reaching its goal of $750.
Martinez reported that at the end of this month, ACE Cash Express has plans to present a check to the sixth grade teachers. The business already has plans to raise more money for another classroom next year.
“I honestly believe that kids are the future and if we can help them and give them the tools they need to be successful, we should,” said Martinez.
AdoptAClassroom.org reported that once donors like ACE Cash Express turn over the funds they have raised to the classroom recipients, they will receive updates on the impact of their donation to see how it proved beneficial for students.
