$500 WE Teachers Awards can provide tools and resources to address critical issues
information provided by Walgreens
DEERFIELD, Ill. (July 22, 2019) – Teachers today spend an average of $500 of their own money each year to purchase classroom supplies for their students. To support educators, Walgreens has launched WE Teachers—a nationwide initiative to support all teachers by providing access to free tools and resources.
“WE Teachers is an innovative program that empowers educators to address difficult issues, so students thrive in the classroom and beyond,” said Alyssa Raine, Walgreens chief marketing officer.
Together with back-to-school supplier partners, Walgreens has committed to donating $5 million to the ME to WE Foundation—an organization that provides products and services to support WE Charity—to fund the development of the WE Teachers program. From July 21 through September 7, when customers shop back to school at Walgreens, they too can join the company’s commitment to supporting teachers across America. Shoppers can track the impact that ME to WE Proud Supporter brands are making on Walgreens.com/metowe. Customers can also make a direct impact through cash donations at the register, which will help fund additional WE Teachers resources.
The WE Teachers Program
Walgreens has partnered with the ME to WE Foundation to create a program to help educators address issues such as youth violence, poverty, issues related to diversity and inclusion, bullying, and mental health and wellbeing.
Through WE Teachers, educators can access online digital training modules to help them:
- identify and assess issues affecting their students,
- secure the tools needed to address the issues in a supportive manner,
- introduce new experiential learning techniques in the classroom, and
- help students become more socially conscious, compassionate, and engaged citizens.
The modules will begin rolling out online this fall and will be available to teachers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in both English and Spanish.
“We know that educators are more than teachers—they’re mentors, counselors, friends, and confidants, and every day they are faced with the challenge of tackling critical social issues that go beyond classroom walls,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. “The WE Teachers program was created to give educators the tools and resources they need to approach these issues with their students.”
To inform the modules, Walgreens and the ME to WE Foundation also partnered with Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness. WE Teachers training will support educators as they work with students who experience traumatic situations, as well as helping teachers take preventive measures to avoid trauma.
Nominations being accepted
As part of the WE Teachers program, Walgreens is encouraging consumers to nominate deserving educators who go above and beyond to receive a WE Teachers Award. Starting July 21, customers and teachers can visit their local Walgreens stores to learn how to nominate or apply for a WE Teachers Award.
Lansing, Illinois, has two Walgreens locations:
- 18133 Torrence Avenue
- 3564 Ridge Road
There will be a minimum of 500 recipients and each recipient will receive a $500 Walgreens gift card to purchase classroom supplies—an amount designed to cover a year’s worth of teacher out-of-pocket expenses. Teachers can also apply directly.
WE Teacher Award Official Rules
No purchase necessary. Purchase will not improve your chances. Nominations and applications for the WE Teachers Award begin at midnight ET 07/21/2019 and end at 5 p.m. ET 05/31/2020. To be eligible, an educator may apply or be nominated. To enter, submit the application found online at WETEACHERS.org. In order to complete the application process, educators must sign up to become a WE Teacher participant. Awards will be in the form of a $500 USD Walgreens gift card to each of 500 recipients. Award winners will be evaluated and selected by WE Charity. Nominators will not receive a prize. Official rules: WEteachers.org/rules.
