We all love Target.
That’s nothing new, right?
The sales rock. The clothes for kids–and adults!–rock. The Dollar Bins rock. The grocery items rock. Those cute brown boots I got last year rock. The toy section rocks. The household items rock. Their diapers rock. Their little cafe rocks. Just about everything about Target rocks.
As an local influencer and a mama who’s all up in education, I was recently invited to spend a morning with some friends from Target to get a first-hand look at why another side of Target rocks–the giving, philanthropic side of Target that not everyone knows about.
I had a chance to chat with them about why Target really is all that when it comes to supporting everything reading, education, and our kids.
Target loves education so much that they’re throwing in a sweet $150 gift card for one lucky teachmama.com reader–and we all know that $150 at Target can come in handy, either as a donation to your school or as a way to make the holidays a bit easier for your family.
And yes, that IS Bridget Mendler of Good Luck Charlie and that IS the Target Bullseye Bus and that IS me standing with them both. Woot!
Here’s the skinny, and here’s why we should all totally heart Target. . .
- Target Supports Education: Grants & Programs that ROCK: Sure, do remember seeing Target at the National Book Festival last year, with a huge area set aside for families and reading.
And I did write about Target’s Read With Me program a few years back. But since then, I have to admit (gulp!) I don’t recall hearing much about Target, which is why it’s so exciting to share these cool programs with you:
- Give With Target: $2.5 million to 100 in-need schools–$25,000 to each school. $2.5 million to schools through a Facebook vote. That’s $5 million to schools and students. That’s a lot of cash. That’s a lot of hope.
That’s incredible. Unbelievable. Fabulous and fantastic.
And I was lucky enough to be there at one school in Baltimore on the morning the principal received her $25,000 check. It was awesome–the children, the staff, the parents, everyone was alive with excitement for education and the promise of success in the year to come.
The morning of the Baltimore #GiveWithTarget event was electric!
- Take Charge of Education: Choose any eligible K-12 school, and we’ll donate 1% of your REDcard purchases at Target.
Jill talks about this program in the video piece above, and it’s something I am really into. I had no idea that for every purchase you make on your Target REDcard, Target will donate 1% to the eligible school of your choice. That really adds up after time.
In fact, my kids’ school has already received over $6000 from Target, and I had no idea. It’s awesome. It’s like free money, so why wouldn’t you enroll in the program? $324 million donated since 1997 and $26 million in the most recent payout.
And if you don’t have a child in school, register your local school, your grandchild’s school, or a school in a low-income area. Why not?
new to me: each Target store can award 3 field trip grants
- Field Trip Grants: Since 2007, Target has donated $16 million in grants, sending 2 million students on 22,500 field trips.
Each Target store will award three Target Field Trip Grants to K—12 schools nationwide—enabling one in 25 schools throughout the U.S. to send a classroom on a field trip. Each grant is valued up to $700.
Each. Target. Store. Awards. THREE. Field. Trip. Grants.
All teachers have to do is apply.
There’s even a snazzy button, banner, poster, and email that can be used to promote a super field trip spot. Awesome.
- Arts, Culture, and Design in School Grants: $2000 to bring arts and culture to classrooms. Magnifique! Muy bueno! Fabuloso!
Apply in March & April for a September grant notification, so you do need a bit of planning here, but it will be well worth it!
And I didn’t know that Target also supported local art & culture in a ton of cities around the country by providing discounted museum admission or free shows. Find a free or reduced-price event near you!
- Early Childhood Reading Grants: Also $2000 with applications in March & April but with an August notification, these grants are geared toward schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations to support programs such as after-school reading events and weekend book clubs.
Target’s all about fostering a love of reading and encouraging children to read with their families, and I think it’s awesome.
- Target School Library Makeovers: I had heard that Target was re-doing some school libraries in a major way, but I had no idea that the make0ver included 2,000 new books, new computers, furniture and other things.
I also didn’t know that each student was given a set of books to take home so the whole family can share in the experience. I love it.
Kids must be fed–and healthy–to learn!
- Meals for Minds: This is totally new-to-me program, but it’s one that I think is so, so, so very important. It’s important because it really shows that we’re talking about the whole child.
It’s education at the most basic level, feeding a child’s physical well-being. In partnership with Feeding America, the Meals for Minds campaign is one that especially hits home this month, September, the Go Orange for Hunger Action Month. Get involved!
Jane O’Connor at last year’s National Book Festival (LOVE her!)
Want more photos from the event? Check out flickr & YouTube!
- Book Festivals: I spent a boatload of time last year in Target’s Family Storytelling Stage at the National Book Festival on the Mall here in DC, but I didn’t realize that they were book festival happy.Like happy in a way that they hit book festivals all overthe country kind of happy.Check out the stage lineup and materials for this year’s Family Storytelling Stage at the National Book Festival, and be sure to check out events local to you as well. And don’t despair if you’re not close to a festival; there are tons of materials for you to use and download from home.
Target really is a book festival happy company!
It doesn’t seem to stop with education, either; Target participates in social service programs, crisis relief programs, and military & veteran support programs, and you can also sign up to volunteer with Target as well. It’s really enough to make me want to dance.
Thanks, Target, for all you do to support education, learning, and families!
—————————————————————
this contest is closed, as of 9/21/12. . . many thanks to all who entered and congrats to Elisabeth for her win!
GIVEAWAY: $150 Target gift card
Do you want to win a $150 Target gift card?! SURE you do!!
All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me which of Target’s programs you think is the most awesome!
For extra entries, get creative!!:
- Tweet this:
- Win a $150 @Target gift card on @teachmama http://wp.me/p1NAxy-2bM #GiveWithTarget #weteach #giveaway
- Learn how @Target supports #education on @teachmama http://wp.me/p1NAxy-2bM #GiveWithTarget
- Celebrate #backtoschool win $150 @Target giftcard for your school http://wp.me/p1NAxy-2bM #GiveWithTarget
- Share this poston your Facebook page–very easy!
- Share this post with a friend (just tell me who you shared it with!)
- Pin this post on Pinterest! (Use ‘pin it!’ button below post!)
- G+ this post on Google+ (Use the G+ button below post!)
By entering this giveaway, you are demonstrating your understanding of and compliance with the Official Sweepstakes Rules.
This giveaway ends Friday, September 21, 2012 at midnight ET. Winner will be chosen by ‘And the Winner is. . .’ and will be notified on or around 9/21/12. Winner must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected. All Official Sweepstakes Rules apply.
fyi: This is an unsponsored post. As a member of Target’s Inner Circle Program, I was invited to participate in the #GiveWithTarget event and received four backpacks for my school along with a $150 Target gift card to give to one of my readers. My opinions here are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent, educator, and longtime fan of Target. Some affiliate links are included.
Gina
They’re all great programs, but I think the library one sounds wonderful. When I was a teacher, I had to write grants to get books for kids to bring home, since many did not have ANY at home. It’s so very important.
Gina
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/MoneywiseMoms/status/244441763765436417
Elise
I love the “Meals for Minds” program!
sarapete
I love the read with me program
sarapete
tweeted https://twitter.com/SaraMama/status/244445044214464512
Katie
Give with Target is amazing!
Staci A
I think Meals for Minds is a great program! I’m sure a lot kids will benefit from it.
Staci A
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/MommaStaciA/status/244453607594942464. Thanks!
Shelly
While I love how they think about supporting education in so many ways, I love how they are targeting the arts the best. The arts are first to be cut in schools these days, with budget shortfalls! Thanks Target!
Dana
I saw a Target school library makeover on HGTV, I think!, and it was awesome! So, I’m voting for the library makeover!
Christina
I think they are all great, but I love the library makeovers are great (and have seen one first hand)!
Christina
tweet – https://twitter.com/MyAngelEryn/status/244466990331351042
Christina
shared on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ma2anangel/posts/443165402401972
Christina
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/104998612601543562531/posts
Ayanna R.
I love the field trip grants! So many schools in my county have had to cut out field trips all together for the most part because of funding and pressures from the state to do well on exams. Students still need to be able to bond and have learning experiences outside of the classroom. With families struggling to make ends meet it’s even harder for parents to supplement those activities, so bravo to Target for filling the void. More companies should feel the sense of responsibility that they do.
pat
I think the Meals for Minds is a great one. Although I live and work in an affluent area, we have seen a huge increase in the numbers of “brown bags” which hold lunches for those families in need, supplied by our State program, as well as the opening of a food bank in town. If your students are hungry, they cannot concentrate, learn, and well, just be kids!
PragmaticMom
I tweeted.
Brandy
I think my very favorite Target program is the library makeover. Books are the foundation of a great education and it is so important for children to have access to a variety of literature.
Char
I LOVE the give with Target program! I’m also familiar with the free/discounted museum program. Our local children’s museum here in Denver has Target nights on the first Tuesday of the month (I think) and admission is free! So great for children to have that experience without the parents having to worry about cost.
Judy
I think the Field Trip Grant program is awesome – what a great opportunity for schools and students!
Growing Book by Book
I know several people who have recieved the fieldtrip grants which is awesome. What a cool giveaway. I love Target!
Angie K
Love the School Library Makeovers program- so wonderful!
Ally
School library makeovers had to be the best idea! So many schools in my area need to be totally rebuilt, but with no money, it’ll never happen. A library makeover would art least give students a nice place to learn to be literate and to love books.
Char
I shared on my facebook page!
Mami2jcn
I like the Target School Library Makeovers the most. A great library is so important!
Mami2jcn
1st tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/244595790079737857
Mami2jcn
2nd tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/244595876524355584
Mami2jcn
3rd tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/244596189373272064
Mami2jcn
Shared on Facebook–https://www.facebook.com/mary.happymommy/posts/117748231707608
Valerie
I never knew about the field trip grants – that’s so great and a needed resource for teachers!
Elena
I like the school library makeovers
Elena
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/244612182174732288
Elena
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/244612359287611393
Elena
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/244612543270760448
Elena
http://pinterest.com/pin/113715959312278135/
Elena
https://plus.google.com/118285255600147977444/posts/ZRd75QYjNJa
Elena
https://www.facebook.com/#!/elena.istomina.12/posts/417204225005896
Tabathia B
I like the meals for minds
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/244614954693566465
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
shared post on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.barrett.562/posts/302445573196580
Tabathia B
pinned post
http://pinterest.com/pin/95560823314359301/
Tabathia B
google + post
https://plus.google.com/117757026555953472566/posts/bP4q4LoYqG3
angie
I love the Meals for Minds program.
angie
pinned the post
angie
shared the post via facebook
Jessie C.
I like them all! Target School Library Makeovers is the best among them.
Jessie C.
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/244678804503674880
Jessie C.
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/244678868542308352
Jessie C.
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/244678914327326720
Jessie C.
Shared on FB.http://teachmama.com/2012/09/target-supports-education-grants-programs-that-rock-giveaway.html
Jessie C.
Shared this post with my sis.
Jessie C.
http://pinterest.com/pin/177329304048886910/
Jessie C.
G+ this post on Google+
jc c
Nikki
How to choose a favorite? If I have to, then I’ll choose the field trip grants. Would (obviously) love to win this!
Michelle Breum
I think the Early Childhood Reading Grants are the most awesome. I tweeted, pinned, and shared this post on Facebook.
What a great experience for you! I absolutely love Good Luck Charlie, and so do my kids. Your interview with Bridget Mendler was fun to watch. Target is great.
Thanks for sharing about all Target’s grants in one place. Some are new to me. I plan to share this info with some local schools and non-profits.
Jessica To
I think the Field Trip Grants program is awesome.
Amanda Sakovitz
i like the early childhood reading grants the best
Amanda Sakovitz
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/244841060365398016
Amanda Sakovitz
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/244841187926761472
Amanda Sakovitz
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/244841315987234816
Amanda Sakovitz
facebook share
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.sakovitz/posts/154029031402480
Amanda Sakovitz
I shared this post with my friend.
Amanda Sakovitz
shared on google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/109923837387328357700/posts/L164dTNFBYb
Amanda Sakovitz
pinned
http://pinterest.com/pin/216735800788271111/
Madeline Taylor
Art, Culture and Design has a special place in my heart. Not only am I a strong proponent of teaching literacy through art – I am a big fan of exposing children to art everyday in everyway. I run a program called Art Rocks the School. It’s a day in which we drop everything ad do art – 30 artists come in and engage the children in a myriad of art forms. It is in it’s fourth year running and it is well recieved but not well funded. Working on that aspect!
Sonia Mena
Love Means for Minds. Good nutrition is important for both body and mind.
Jessica
I think the Early Childhood Reading Grants are the coolest.
MARISSIA WATKINS
tweet https://twitter.com/SWEEPNETS/status/244952583830114304
MARISSIA WATKINS
book festival is awesome
MARISSIA WATKINS
shared on facebook
steph
more reasons to love target! my fav is meals for minds.
steph
https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/244965354957328384
steph
https://www.facebook.com/steph.woodson.5/posts/434265313276267 shared
Eileen
Family Fun Nights at Port Discovery
Robin Schick
Wow- didn’t know about these grants and give aways either. Our closest Target is 45 mintues away , but these are awesome programs. From the sounds of thigns the Meals for Minds stands out as a great way to help a lot of kids who need the nutrition to kick start their brains. The second one is the Arts and Culture as there are too many schools cutting those programs.
Thanks for the info
Robin
Barb
Wow, I didn’t know about most of these programs. What they are doing is awesome! I love the field trip grants.
aimee @ smilingmama
Wow! I knew about some of those, but definitely not all of them. I LOVE the field trip sponsorships. With all the cuts to school budgets in the past few years, in our school district the teachers have to rent charter buses for field trips. That means that even a field trip to a free location (which we are SO lucky to have lots of!) is about $12 per student.
Melissa Foster
These are all good programs but my favorite is the field trip grants. So much has changed in the education world and now there seems to be less time for things like field trips, arts, or music.
Tina M
Meals for Minds
Tina M
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/245255734093299712
Tina M
G+ this post on Google+
Tina M
Pin this post on Pinterest!
Jennifer Radtke
I love the field trip grant they are offering. All are good programs. I just know how much the kids and teachers love getting out of the school to go and learn hands-on. I like being able to go with too and getting to know the kids better.
Rebecca D
I like the library makeovers. What a great program…go Target!
Stacey B
The Meal for Minds is my favorite . Sounds most beneficial to the kids
Stacey B
https://twitter.com/StaceyRenee711/status/245290100756475905
Stacey B
Google+d as Stacey Bic
MARISSIA WATKINS
SHARED POST WITH A FRIEND
MARISSIA WATKINS
PIN: http://pinterest.com/pin/104286547592586543/
MARISSIA WATKINS
G+ this post on Google+
Diamelis Leal
Just found out about the take charge of education program. thanks for sharing!
Renee Brown
I LOVE the Take Charge of Education program. I love money going to my daughter’s school just by doing something I would do otherwise!
Thomas Murphy
I like the school library makeover. Reading is so important.
Thomas Murphy
first tweet
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/245677335423090689
Thomas Murphy
second tweet
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/245677624171569152
Thomas Murphy
third tweet
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/245677716370759680
Thomas Murphy
my facebook share
http://www.facebook.com/tom.murphy.946179/posts/447344541970784
Thomas Murphy
pin
http://pinterest.com/pin/38280665553812517/
Thomas Murphy
I shared on google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104097932075966638206#104097932075966638206/posts/6V5QA28XnjS
Karla
They’re all great, but the one with books is most interesting. We love books and so many kids don’t feel the same way. I don’t know what we’d do without books! I hope my son grows to love books as much as I do.
ashley
Meals for Minds!
ashley
+1 on google+
ashley
https://twitter.com/ohsmiledarling/status/246439212809863168
Jodi
Meals For Minds — It’s a new program to me too. I hadn’t heard of it before today, but it’s so so important. No child should ever be hungry and it just makes me happier with Target to know they’re involved in the fight against hunger!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jodi
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/crazeypoet/status/246680813171798016
maryanne
This is one of many reasons I like Target.
As for my favorite program, I’m torn between Meals for Minds and School Library Makeovers!
Trisha
I didn’t realize they were involved in so many great things.The Meals for Minds program tops the list for me.
emily kate
All the programs look amazing but I’d especially be excited about the Book Festival if it was going on at my kids’ school.
Kevin E
The Take Charge for Education program is awesome!
Kevin E
Tweet
https://twitter.com/kjmaje/status/246985987517980672
MARISSIA WATKINS
TWEET
https://twitter.com/SWEEPNETS/status/247137185394995200
Deanna G.
I think “Give With Target” is the most awesome! 🙂
Deanna G.
Tweet #1:
https://twitter.com/calidreamin87/status/247235463474196480
Deanna G.
Tweet #2:
https://twitter.com/calidreamin87/status/247236059363168256
Deanna G.
Tweet #3:
https://twitter.com/calidreamin87/status/247236339618160641
Deanna G.
Shared on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/calidreamin87/posts/420898071290838
Deanna G.
Pinned the post:
http://pinterest.com/pin/168814686003404401/
Deanna G.
G+’d the post. (Deanna Cali)
Teresa Young
So many great programs – I like “Give with Target” – a school could do so much with $25,000 and it would help students for years to come.
tmyoung at rochester dot rr dot com
Teresa Young
tweeted
https://twitter.com/tmy56/status/247514996613988352
Teresa Young
pinned
http://pinterest.com/pin/267612402828910666/
Cori Westphal
I think the Arts, Culture, and Design in School Grants for sure! I truly believe art is important for our children, and they get far too less of it in school!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
Tweet 1: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/248518086007848961
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
Tweet 2: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/248519072352989185
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/248519302125350912
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
I Google +’d: Cori Westphal (https://plus.google.com/u/0/103353585286066075351/posts)
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal
I pinned the giveaway on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/261068109620289343/
coriwestphal (http://pinterest.com/coriwestphal/)
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Tracy Robertson
I think Meals for Minds is the best! A child can not even begin to benefit from all of the other great things offered if they are hungry and can’t concentrate!
Nicole Eisenman
Target School Library Makeover–having a good reading foundation is so vital for the success of a child’s education.
Tracy Robertson
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/tracylr233/status/248523441114853376
Thank you!
Nicole Eisenman
http://pinterest.com/pin/120541727497437051/
Elisabeth
They all sound fabulous! I love that they promote lots of reading! I especially love the Target School Library Makeovers. 🙂
Elisabeth
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/egood33/status/248874520549654528
Elisabeth
I shared this post: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.good1/posts/274186416025164
Elisabeth
I also shared this post with my husband!
Elisabeth
pinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/41939840251087838/
Elisabeth
I +1 this post!
Mark
I like the meals for minds program the most!
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
I like that they donate 1% from all RedCard purchases.
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
https://twitter.com/_tubbytelly/status/249324818120450048
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
https://twitter.com/_tubbytelly/status/249325278965424130
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
https://twitter.com/_tubbytelly/status/249325977421881345
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
on my wall https://www.facebook.com/tubbytelly/posts/157738947698205
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
pinned it http://pinterest.com/pin/221520875392476908/
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn
G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/115658037510161973962/posts/fUkfHmqqg16