SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Dec. 18, 2019) – Horace Mann employees donated $3,000 to HMGives to DonorsChoose, an employee-driven fundraiser thanking educators in three of Horace Mann’s office locations, including 20 classrooms in Sangamon County, Illinois, one in Irving, Texas and another in Durham, North Carolina. In addition, the company, which helps educators achieve their financial goals, donated $2 for every $1 donated by employees (up to $2,500) for a total donation to DonorsChoose.org projects of $8,000.

Early Learning Center educator Sara Gwaltney’s project, One, Two, Three, See The Puppet Show With Me!, is one of the completed projects. “I can't thank you enough for this amazing gift! This couldn't have come at a more perfect time! This program is incredible and has helped add essential learning materials to my classroom,” said Gwaltney when she heard the news. “The children are going to be excited to use the materials coming our way. Thank you for valuing and investing in early childhood education. Room 171 thanks everyone who donated!!”

Altogether, the projects completed include iPads, movie tickets, seat sacks, wiggle chairs, math and science tools, headphones and more. Educators estimate more than 700 students will benefit from the donated supplies. DonorsChoose.org provides a way for teachers to post classroom project requests allowing donors to identify and choose projects to support.

“Horace Mann’s employees are so generous. They love to help our educator customers by giving them what they need for their classrooms and using DonorsChoose.org is the perfect way to do it,” said Michelle Eccles, Horace Mann’s Public Relations Manager. “Educators are driven to help their students, and this is one small way to help educators fulfill that mission.”

Projects were funded in the Springfield, Auburn, New Berlin, Riverton and Ball-Chatham School Districts in Illinois, as well as in the Durham School District in North Carolina and Irving Independent School District in Irving, Texas.

About Horace Mann
Horace Mann (Horace Mann Educators Corp. (NYSE:HMN) is the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators' financial needs. Horace Mann provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information about the company, visit horacemann.com.

Contact:
Bree Hankins, Springfield Public Schools, Coordinator of Public Relations and Marketing, 217-525-3024, bhankins@sps186.org

Michelle Eccles, Horace Mann, (217) 788-5394, michelle.eccles@horacemann.com.

Projects completed:

Sangamon County

• Wiggle While We Work, Mrs. Colyer, Auburn Elementary School, Auburn

Ball-Chatham CUSD

• Flexible Seating for 3rd Grade, Mrs. Acree, Chatham Elementary School, Chatham

New Berlin CUSD

• Mrs. W's Structured Room Keeps Their iPads, Mrs. Wortman, New Berlin Elementary School, New Berlin
• iPod's for Independence!, Mrs. Yarko, New Berlin Junior High School, New Berlin

Riverton CUSD

• Magical Theater, Mrs. Painter, Riverton Elementary School, Riverton

Springfield School District

• One, Two, Three See The Puppet Show With Me!, Mrs. Gwaltney, Early Learning Center, Springfield
• iPad for a Flipped Classroom, Mrs. Cox, Butler Elementary School, Springfield
• Worldly Readers Make Big Achievers!, Mrs. Drennan, Enos Elementary School, Springfield
• Colorful Students, Mr. Hustedt, Fairview Elementary School, Springfield
• Math Mania and More!, Mrs. Martin, Harvard Park Elementary School, Springfield
• Broken Headphones Need to be Replaced and Adding a New iPad, Ms. Vespa, Laketown Elementary School, Springfield
• Makin' Magnificent Mathematicians, Ms. Godefroid, Lindsay Elementary School, Springfield
• Flexible Learning Space for First Grade!, Mrs. Prusak, McClernand Elementary School, Springfield
• Alternative Seating for Maximum Learning​, Mrs. Noonan, Owen Marsh Elementary School, Springfield
• Little Readers Will Be Tomorrow’s Leaders, Mrs. Walters, Ridgely Elementary School, Springfield
• Free to Move About the Classroom, Mr. Deaton, Sandburg Elementary School, Springfield
• Cracking College Credit!, Mr. Lopian, Southeast High School, Springfield
• BrainPOP, Ms. Brenneisen, Southern View Elementary School, Springfield
• Books Are Gateways to a Thousand Lives, Ms. Prather, Washington Middle School, Springfield
• It's Showtime!, Mrs. Dunn, Wilcox Elementary School, Springfield

Durham, North Carolina

Durham Public School District

• Laptops for Learners, Mrs. E, Parkwood Elementary School, Durham, NC

Irving, Texas

Irving ISD

• Technology to Raise Future CEOs, Mrs. Ramirez, Britain Elementary School, Irving, TX

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