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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Rutkelis from Chicago, IL is requesting other through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Rutkelis is requesting

Help Complete the Twain Band!

My students need a Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, and Tuba to complete the instrumentation of a true band. Also, they need neck straps for more advanced clarinet technique.

  • $7,405 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

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Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

The Mark Twain Band was a dream that came true. The students started in this band three years ago. It started because thirteen students were willing to purchase their own instruments and take private lessons. We are now a concert band of 60 students with 40 new beginning band students. The dream has become 100 strong!

We are a Title One school, but we are in Level One CPS standards.

The students have to purchase their own instruments to be in band which is sometimes a difficult process for parents. Many of the instruments requested are instruments that would be impossible for the parents to be asked to purchase due to the nature of the price for the instrument. The parental support though is overwhelming at our school and so many parents want to help support their children growing musically by being in band. The teachers and staff are extremely excited and supportive of our growing band program as well.

My Project

The students will be able to be exposed to instruments that would be impossible for our parents or school to purchase. They will have the supported sound necessary for the true concert band music style and will get a chance to see the instruments in ALL of the grades at school. The students elected to play these instruments will be students that are serious about the care for the instrument and will take on the challenge of learning something new. This will also give us an opportunity to begin playing jazz and other music that would not be able to be played without these instruments. The clarinets will also be supported in their technical advancements due to the straps because currently many of the students have hands too small to play many of the notes with ease.

This project will be a completion of band instruments for our students.

It is an amazing opportunity that will allow the students exposure at EVERY grade to hearing, seeing, and playing through the instruments requested in this project. It will allow many of the younger students to dream big to be able to see and hear ANY instrument they desire and love. The concert band will have a full low brass and woodwind section which will be a dream come true to my students and I.

Ms. Rutkelis Mark Twain Elementary School Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Rutkelis

Chicago, IL View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

500 students impacted 8donors

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See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
BE1077 Performance Series 3-Valve Eb Tuba • Woodwind and Brasswind $2,749.00 1 $2,749.00
Vienna Series Intermediate Baritone Saxophone • Woodwind and Brasswind $1,999.99 1 $1,999.99
AABC-304 Bass Clarinet • Woodwind and Brasswind $1,249.99 1 $1,249.99
Clarinet Neck Strap • Woodwind and Brasswind $17.19 10 $171.90

Materials cost

$6,170.88

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$92.56

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$6,293.44

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$1,110.61

Total project goal

$7,404.05

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $7,404.05

6 Donors

-$7,404.02

Donations toward project cost

-$6,293.44

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$1,110.58

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$0.03

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Rutkelis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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