The whipping winds and driving rain battering Qwest Field on Christmas Eve were certainly enough to dissuade even the most extreme fan — but they couldn’t quash the pre-game excitement as Seattle Public Schools was presented with $48,150 raised through the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program.
Representatives from The Seattle Seahawks, along with title sponsor Symetra Financial and Vulcan Inc., presented Seattle School Board president Cheryl Chow with a check to outfit classrooms with books and supplies.
Program partners and the Alliance for Education, a nonprofit organization helping to ensure the academic success of students in Seattle Public Schools, worked with local businesses, including Alliance Packaging, John L. Scott Real Estate and Whole Foods, to raise money for the 2006 Symetra Heroes project. Vulcan also donated an additional $12,000. Due to the generous contributions of these companies, money given to the Seattle Public School District surpassed the project’s goal of $40,000 for the 2006 season.
“It’s wonderful to see companies like Symetra going into our schools and giving teachers the recognition they deserve,” said Chow. “There are thousands of teachers across the district who are doing critical work every day to help kids succeed. They truly are the unsung heroes of our community, and to have a program that lets their kids see just how important their teacher is — it is really special.”
Standing on the sidelines watching the presentation were three of the 24 exceptional Seattle public school teachers honored both in the classroom and on the field during Seahawks home games this season; Shirley Swarts, Kurt Thompson and Cathy VanWinkle.
Swarts, an English-Language-Learners teacher at Thurgood Marshall Elementary in Seattle’s Central District, was overwhelmed by the experience.
“The sideline experience was electric,” said Swarts. “Thank you for acknowledging teaching as a noble profession. I am very honored to have been chosen as a Symetra Hero in the Classroom.”
Upon accepting the contribution, Chow stressed the importance of local company support for education.
“When you think about it, we are all one community,” said Chow. “And, public education is everyone’s responsibility — parents, educators, public officials, the private sector — all of us. It is nice to see a company like Symetra really step up and show that they too believe in improving public education.”
More information about Symetra Heroes in the Classroom, including a complete 2006 Hero roster, teacher profiles and photos, is available online at www.symetra.com/heroes.