Support Research by Eighth Grade Girls

I hope Prof. B. will pick this one up as well. Got it this morning from my university's women's studies department's listserv.

We write in hope that you can help out some extremely deserving Minneapolis public school students and their teacher. Three eighth graders from Harry Davis Academy (names omitted for privacy) won their first place at the History Day competition with a fascinating project on Betty Crocker and her significance for women's history. They also won the chance to go to the national competition in DC--but of course this is an expensive proposition, particularly for the very-low-income families of
these girls. Their teacher, Tim Kaari, is covering the cost of the $2400 trip himself in hope that he will be eventually reimbursed. So far, however, he hasn't had any success, including his attempts to get support from General Mills. Meanwhile, the students are raising funds through bake sales and some small support from the Star Tribune. Thus, we're asking faculty to make modest donations for this cause. Checks can be made out to Harry W. Davis Academy and if you mail or personally deliver them to one of our mailboxes we will forward them on to Mr. Kaari. Checks don't need to be large--any amount would be helpful and would certainly reinforce our committment to the work that is going on at this school. It's worth noting that other students from Davis Academy also went to state finals (for a project on African slave quilts) and won prizes in their age-categories for projects on labor history and GLBT themes. Clearly something exciting is happening at this school.

How great is that teacher for paying for the trip?! And WTF re: General Mills? Email me if you'd like to know how to get in touch with the people who are collecting checks for Mr. Kaari.