You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Bryan Howard's Mustache, aka Yosemite Sam

Part of: Chicago Growers
  • $787raised
  • 12projects funded
  • 10schools served
  • 12teachers supported
For the next four weeks, I will subject myself to public humiliation and private doubt by growing what will no-doubt be a ridiculous-looking Mustache. To justify this endeavor, I need your support. Please sponsor Yosemite Sam by choosing a classroom project below and making a donation of any amount. And wish me and Sam luck!
  • Ravishing Resources

    Funded Mar 2, 2012

    Thank you so much for donating to fund the magazines for the classroom. The first time I passed them out, the students eyes gleamed and one even said, "Yes! We get to read Scholastic Magazines!" We all appreciate it.

    We have used them to read a variety of genres such as narrative fiction, non-fiction, and drama. The students find the stories interesting and compelling.

    My sch is currently facing a budget issue and without your help, we would have never gotten the magazines. They will surely help out with student success and turn them on to reading. ”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Spitelli

    This classroom project was brought to life by Donor and 3 other donors.
  • Bringing Stories to Life: Literacy Extension Activities

    Funded Feb 28, 2012

    Today was the last day of school and I can't tell you how much better this year was due to your generous donation of art materials. Kindergarten has become a serious high stakes grade. All students must not only learn letters, and letter sounds but are expected to read by the time they leave. Most of our school's budget is spent on reading and math materials. Without your generous donation, we wouldn't have been able to create our numerous art projects. We made pinatas, kites, 2 types of butterflies, painted pictures, make ornaments, monsters, masks and generally had a great time. My friends started calling me the "Glitter queen", because I used so much glitter. We made photo pins and magnets for mother's day. We used a roll of paper to create a big mural we hung in the hall. Being able to incorporate art and music into our curriculum are key, and it made our classroom a fun place to be. Education isn't all about test scores, there should also be some joy and laughter.

    You three, by your donation helped our classroom become that place of joy. I and my 48 kindergarten children thank you from the bottom of our hearts. When they came in and saw the new crayons, they clapped. A big round of applause for the three of you from room 502. ”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Ocampo

  • Lending Library for Below Poverty Level Students

    Funded Jan 31, 2012

    Thank you for providing my students with a shelving unit for our classroom library. My students have been able to choose books similar to that of a public library. When the large box first arrived they were interested in what was in it. We talked about how someone special donated it to us. They were excited to think that someone thought they were important enough and that reading was important too. It has benefited them because they have had the tools for imagination through reading, vocabulary building, and experience the structure of sentences in literature.

    Our students come from homes where their parents have difficulty taking them to the library or simply cannot afford to purchase books. Having the shelving unit provides them with a similar situation they would find at a library or in a book store.

    Having donor like you helps below poverty level students, such as our class, have the opportunities more affluent families have.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Siobhan

  • Making Sure Every Student Can Read!!

    Funded Dec 17, 2011

    I just wanted to write to say thank you all sooo much for your donations to our project, Making Sure Every Student Can Read!! The materials in this project were targeted to help some of my most struggling readers. The materials we received included phonics games and sorts, rhyming activities, listening center books and CDs, reader's theater plays to help my students with their fluency, and some low-level, high-interest books. All of these supplies have been a huge success in my classroom!! Not only are they engaging, but they also work! With the use of these materials to help my students fill in their phonics gaps, they have made above-average growth this year--many of them moving up 2 to 3 grade levels in only one year! This type of growth would not have been possible without your support!! Bringing in these new materials was a truly deciding factor in ensuring that all of my students were engaged in their education, wanted to learn more, and were dedicated to improving their reading abilities. My students and I thank you very much for making this possible for us!!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Riley

  • Leveled Books for Beginning Readers

    Funded Dec 21, 2011

    Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom. The leveled readers have been a huge success this school year. Students have been able to take numerous books home and are excited each time they get a new book to read. Many parents have been thankful to have help providing their children with leveled books that will help them learn to read.

    This donation has helped my students reading scores increase dramatically because it has provided the home connection piece that is vital to all learning. Your donation has greatly impacted our students and because of you many of my students will enter second grade as confident readers.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Knerr

  • Elmo Loves Books

    Funded Dec 18, 2011

    I want to express my appreciation for your contribution in support of early literacy in preschool. You truly did a wonderful thing. Your generosity will directly benefit 40 preschoolers. Your personal commitment was incredibly helpful and will allow us to reach our literacy goals. The ELMO (document camera) has made an immediate difference in my classroom. My preschoolers are now able to view every letter, word, and sentence during a read aloud. It is a truly enjoyable experience when they identify letters, point out words, and track sentences with their tiny fingers going left to right.

    Please know how much you've helped my students and how much we appreciate it. ”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Melero

    This classroom project was brought to life by American Tower and 5 other donors.
  • Games and Learning

    Funded Jan 1, 2012

    My second graders and I appreciate you so much!! Thank you for all your support on the Donors Choose projects. We have been using the different Bingo games during centers and for small group tutoring. The games have been great to practice skills that we have learned in class. We use the bingo games during fun centers and the students really get engaged in them. They love being in charge of calling the cards and winning the games.

    I have also used the Bingo games to practice with my tutoring group. It's a fun way to review and teach material that the students need to know. The students are motivated to participate and I use those teachable moments as we play to explain concepts that the students are having trouble with. I hope you know how much we thank you for all that you do for us.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Arroyo

  • Chapter Book Fever

    Funded Dec 17, 2011

    Once again I would like to express my gratitude for your help in funding this project. My second graders have been checking the Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House books out from the classroom library. They love reading all the books and its great to see their faces light up when they get the new book to take home. The students are going home with the book in their hands trying read as the walk out the door.

    I also have a Junie B. Jones or Magic Tree House book every week for a read aloud. The students really enjoy listening to a story and then being able to check it out from our library to take home. I hope you can continue to support projects through Donors Choose. Your donations really do make a great difference in the lives of students.”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Arroyo

  • Scholar Literacy Lab

    Funded Dec 11, 2011

    Thank you so much for your donation to my English classroom. My 6th and 7th grade grade students were extremely excited to find iPod Nanos in their classroom library. The inclusion of technology sparked immediate interest in visiting my classroom library again, which has encouraged a lot of former non-readers to try out audio books.

    With so much demand for audio books now, I've made a schedule so all my students will be able to use the library in a timely manner. The iPods have served as a great incentive for students to improve their behavior because I allow well-behaved students to use my library more frequently. Students continue to improve my library by writing down suggestions for future reading with the star cut-outs that were donated with the iPod Nanos.

    Thank you again for your donations. They really have made a positive impact on my classroom!”

    With gratitude,

    Ms. Dvorak

    This classroom project was brought to life by American Tower and 4 other donors.
  • Building a Community!

    Funded Jan 1, 2012

    Thanks again for all that you have done for me and my students. Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. My students have really enjoyed all of the materials, especially the books (Dolores Starbuckle, Scaredy Squirrel, and Star of the Week are their favorites). All of the materials have taught them valuable lessons about kindness toward others in both our words and actions. I think that the lessons we teach young children have a lasting and profound affect on them, and I truly hope that they will have an opportunity to share these life lessons with siblings, relatives, and friends.

    You are all wonderful people for donating, and I am thankful for your support. God Bless!”

    With gratitude,

    Mrs. Stewin

Start my own page
{"challengeId":205706,"stats":{"active":0,"funded":12,"donors":17},"shouldSaveChallengeIdCookie":true,"challenge":{"id":205706,"type":"Challenge","donorId":1150348,"name":"Bryan Howard's Mustache, aka Yosemite Sam","URL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=205706","shuffleProjects":false,"landingTab":"HISTORICAL","isPartnerPage":false},"challengeName":"Bryan Howard's Mustache, aka Yosemite Sam","vanityType":"challenge","isGivingPage":true}