ECRM is thrilled to have been a sponsor of Kids In Need Foundation's inaugural Champions For Education event, which took place last month and brought together high-profile ambassadors of equality in education and subject matter experts to discuss some of the challenges in the educational ecosystem (watch the recorded event below).

The organization has been a regular part of ECRM's Educational Supplies & Furniture Program and School & Office Program for the past 15 years, and we look forward to haveing them back this year. 

Over the last 10 months, as schools and teachers have navigated learning throughout the pandemic, systemic challenges facing the educational ecosystem have been exasperated. The country’s Achievement Gap, Digital Divide, and Student Absenteeism have been magnified as distance learning has become increasingly prevalent. 

“Education has rightly been a top news story every day throughout the pandemic," said Corey Gordon, CEO of KINF. "The ever-changing and challenging realities of remote, hybrid, and in-person learning over the last 10 months has dramatically magnified the existing, systematic disparities nationwide. We were excited to join with these expert speakers and passionate celebrities through our Champions For Education initiative to address the current landscape of education, how critical it is to find solutions, and how we can come together to level the playing field for all teachers and students across the country.”

The Champions For Education panel of educational experts and champions provided insights and solutions on how we can work together to support teachers and students in underserved schools. Event guests included: 

• Aditi Kinkhabwala, Reporter, NFL Network (moderator)
• Justice Alan Page, NFL Hall of Famer/Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
• Calais Campbell, Baltimore Defensive End / NFL Man of the Year
• Courtney Jones, Founder, Clear The List Foundation
• Eric Gordon, CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District 
• Dr. Grenita Lathan, Interim Superintendent, Houston Independent School District 
• Hedy Chang, Executive Director, Attendance Works
• Jeremy Anderson, President, Education Commission of the States
• Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools
• Mary McLaughlin, SVP, Community Impact and Engagement, Internet Essentials, Comcast
• Shaquille O Neal, NBA Hall of Famer
• Titus O’Neil, WWE Superstar
• Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council / Former Teacher

The even also included a special message from former teacher and "This is Us" cast member Chrissy Metz 

KINF is a nonprofit organization that believes every child in America deserves equal opportunity and access to a quality education, provides the support and tools needed for teachers to teach and learners to learn. By providing essential school supplies, distance learning resources, and other classroom items in high-demand, KINF partners with teachers in underserved schools to ensure students are prepared to learn in the classroom. Through its programs and National Network of Resource Centers,comprised of more than 40 mission-driven organizations nationwide, KINF is able to serve an estimated 5 million students, 200,000 teachers and provide over $100 million in product each year.