Teach for America-Colorado today announced The Anschutz Foundation has donated $4 million — the foundation’s largest gift to the local branch of the national teacher program.
The donation, pledged over over four years, kicks off Teach For America’s initiative to raise $20 million locally and increase the number of teachers in service in Colorado to 800 by the 2014-15 school year from 260 this year.
“As an organization dedicated to strengthening families and communities, we see creating educational opportunity as one of the highest priorities for our state,” said Libby Brown of the The Anschutz Foundation in a prepared statement.
Teach for America corps members are selectively recruited college graduates, but don’t need to have a degree in an education field.
The members commit to teaching for two years after an intensive summer training program, though they can continue teaching if they like.
The non-profit organization gets 65 percent of its funding from donations from foundations, corporations or individuals.
