August 24, 2025 • 25 mins
This week, we talk about our iHeartRadio Thank a Teacher Campaign with Donors Choose along with the upcoming "All About Credit” Event with Delilah at Chase Community Bank.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the weekly show on iHeartRadio. It's on every
weekend on ninety three point nine Light FM, Rock ninety
five to five and one oh three five Kiss FM.
I'm Mick Lee, and this show is all about our
Chicago Land community. We keep you up to data on
things happening here locally. We also give you information happening
nationally and worldwide as well, and we love spotlighting local
(00:20):
charities and nonprofits. So if there's one that you are
really passionate about or maybe you represent, you can email
us directly Mick Lee at iHeartMedia dot com. Today on
the show, we're going to be talking with a representative
from Chase Community Bank. Our very own Delilah Iheartradios. Delilah,
she does Knights on ninety three point nine LIGHTFM, will
(00:40):
be at the All About Credit event here in Chicago
at a local Chase Community Bank. We will talk with
her in just seconds. We're also going to be talking
about our iHeartRadio Thank a Teacher powered by Donors Choose.
We'll be speaking with the CEO of Donors Choose, and
we'll also give you some info on how you can
now your favorite public school educator to get five thousand
(01:03):
dollars for their classroom in the for the upcoming school year.
That's on the way. First up, Robin Rock is here
to talk about that upcoming Chase Community Bank event.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Hey Robin, Hi, it's Robin Rock and I have a
very special guest joining me today. Who do I have
the pleasure speaking to?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Hi, Robin. This is Jared Evans.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I'm a community manager at Chase in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know, we love you guys at Chase, and we
are so grateful for what to do. And I was
hoping that maybe Jared, if you don't mind, you could
take a minute and talk to us about what a
Chase Community center is and what makes that different from
a typical bank branch.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Well, first of all, you know, the community centers came out,
I want to say the first one started in Harlem,
New York, and we opened up a second one in Minneapolis,
and then Chicago was the third one that we opened
in twenty twenty one. And you know, the community center,
(02:01):
think of it. I always tell people it's like going
to church. You know, after church, you sit and talk
with people, you have a good time, you have some food,
and then you start networking and using resources and connecting
people and so that's really what this community center concept
is all about. Our CEO, Jamie Diamond, said he wanted
(02:22):
to put a community center in these nineteen different locations,
and so there are nineteen.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I'm lucky to be number three.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
And what it is is designed for the branches to
build stronger ties to the community and provide banking services
and financial education to people who might not otherwise have
access to them. The look and feel is different from
a typical bank, but it is you can still do
your banking while at the same time we're having these workshops.
(02:51):
We're having financial health workshops, we're doing business networking events,
and we're allowing people to come in, even nonprofits and
other organizations to have meetings.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So it's a what I like to call a get
together place.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That is so cool. I love that. So let's talk.
I mean, when it comes to support, you know, we
kind of support the Chase Community Centers provided to the community.
I mean that's pretty substantial.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Everything we do is rooted in financial health. It's paramount
for us as a company. And whether it's saving for college,
financing a car, buying a home, or planning for retirement,
you know, Chase enables more people to turn their dreams
into reality, and we help connect people to these resources,
which is, you know, my role as a community manager.
(03:36):
Aside from doing financial health, we're making the connection to
the resources that we have. We're committed to being a
force for good in every community we serve. We empower individuals, families, businesses,
and the next generation with the tools, resources, and financial
knowledge they need to achieve financial health and resilience. I'll
(03:58):
say this, your local Chase brand isn't just a place
to bank. It's a community hub where families can find tools,
guidance and support. And really, far too often customers are
intimidated when they visit a bank. They don't know where
to start or who to approach when they have a question.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And it is my job and the job.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Of one hundred and fifty community managers like myself to
try to change that narrative.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I hear the word community a lot, and I love that.
I just want you to know, I love hearing that.
That makes me happy. So you know, you guys have
a special Chase Freedom Rise all about credit events and
that is coming up with ninety three point nine lightfm's
evening host Elilah, So I was hoping maybe you could
tell me about that and how people can get in
on this. I assume they can still attend.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Absolutely we want them to attend. I'm really excited that
iHeart and Chase Freedom Rise has partnered to create All
About Credit, an event series for young adults and their parents.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Navigating their early financial journey.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
We've already hosted these events, excited to say, in New
York and San Francisco, and it's finally coming here to
the Windy City to Chicago on augusta, twenty seventh. So
it's an informative panel with myself and one other Chase
expert that'll be joining us, another fellow community manager, and
(05:21):
indeed it is moderated by the legend herself, Delilah, the
Velvet voice of the night.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I've got my own hashtags for but I'm really excited.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I love it and yeah, yeah, So you know, the
date again is augusta, twenty seventh. It'll start at twelve
noon sharp, and it's going to be at our community center,
which you've heard me talk about, which is.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
At sixty six fifty South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
It's literally on the corner of sixty seventh and Stony Island.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Okay, so what is the goal of the All About
Credit event with Delilah? And I mean, I think I
have some ideas, but why in your opinion? Why is
it important?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Well, I'm glad you asked.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Really, the discussion will provide, you know, young adults and
their parents with the knowledge and the tools to start
them on their credit journey and help strengthen.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Their financial health.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
It will cover basics of credit obviously, including what it
is and why it matters, and how to check your
credit score, and we'll get into credit reports and how
to start building credit and even protect your credit.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
So we're going to cover.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
All of these items and have a very robust conversation.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Great event to attend with your kids, whether they're you know,
younger or college age. I mean right, that's I mean,
this is this is a cool way to learn. I
love this.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Tis the season right every all the kids are going
back to college or back to school in general, and
having these conversations are important. They don't happen enough at
the dinner table as they should, and so we're trying
to create that safe space for us to have these discussions.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's perfect, okay. So what's the best way for the
public to stay informed about Chane Community Bank events, Because
I mean this sounds pretty awesome and I'm sure you've
got more like than coming up.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Absolutely right, I'll tell you again.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We have nineteen now community centers in various cities across
the country, and if you want to check us out,
you can go to Chase dot com forward slash Family
Banking and this will provide you with resources for parents
and students. It'll even give you the branch locator, which
in the in the Greater Chicago Land area in the
(07:30):
state of Illinois, we have over two hundred and seventy branches.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
You can walk into any of those branches as well.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
And our bankers there are will certainly connect you to
the community managers that are closest to that market, and
certainly they can always come to the Stoney Island Community
Center and meet me in the flesh.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I will be glad to welcome the me in.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
So one more time, Jared, if you don't mind, could
you tell me about the Chase Freedom Rise All about
Credit event with ninety three point nine light fms me
Delilah the date and when and We're all the important details.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Absolutely Again, we are excited to partner with iHeart and
Chase Freedom Rise to bring you this all about credit activation.
It is happening August to twenty seventh next Wednesday, twelve
pm to two pm, and it will be at our
Chase Stoney Island Community Center, which is sixty six fifty
(08:27):
South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Perfect Jared Evans, you are just so amazing. I love
what you're doing and I appreciate you taking the time
to join us today.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Robin, is a pleasure to see you and talk with
you today on this important world.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Thank you so much for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Thank you, Robin Rock. This is iHeartRadio's weekly show here
on one O three five Kiss FM, Rock ninety five
to five and ninety three point nine LIGHTA FM. As
we continue at the show, iHeartRadio has been conducting our
Thank Teacher campaign where we recogniz amazing public school teachers
who go above and beyond and some of them are
(09:06):
going to get five thousand dollars toward their classroom for
this school year thanks to donors Choose. So we've got
the CEO of Donors Choose on to talk about that
and what they do to help out Across the United States.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
iHeartRadio has been conducting a fank a Teacher campaign. That
campaign has been powered by Donors Choose. But what does
Donors Choose? Well, we're lucky to be joined right now
by Alex Carriere, the CEO of Donors Choose. Alex, I
appreciate the time, Thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
Oh Manny, First of all, thank you for having us.
We are so thrilled to be in partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Yeah, we've been having a great time with it and
for a worthy cause. Obviously, we'll get into that in
a moment. For those who don't know though, Donors Choose,
let's start off with that. How would you describe the
organization in its simplest terms.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Sure, we are a nonprofit that supports public school teachers.
That's the heart of it. And the way that we
do that is we have an online platform. It's a
DonorsChoose dot org, and any public school teacher across the
country can come onto donors Choose and essentially create a
request for anything that they might need to meet the
(10:19):
needs of their students. And so we have teachers coming
on and requesting basic supplies or books or creative stuff,
and we read and vet all of those requests, make
sure we understand the learning objective, and then we post
them up online and through the generosity of an incredible
(10:40):
community of donors, folks come on the site and can
contribute to those requests, and then we sort of meet
the full amount of a request. It's a little bit
unlike other crowdfunding platforms. We actually don't send the cash,
but we actually send the stuff itself to the school.
It becomes part of the school. The stricts property, everything's transparent,
(11:02):
just to make sure that everybody knows exactly what the
impact they're having is. And that's our quals.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Is that one of the things that makes donors choose
different from some of the other education focused charities out there.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Yeah, I think that there are a few things that
make us different.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
I think we're in a community that's all aimed at
serving the needs of kids, So in that aspect, I
think we're similar to other organizations. But some of the
unique things about us are that we're basically in every
community in the country. You know, when we last did
our count, ninety percent of American schools and I'm talking
(11:38):
across the entire country have used donors Choose and we're
trying to tick that up, you know, getting closer to
one hundred percent. So we're in every community and all
of the teacher requests are actually viewable on our site.
And so even without donating anybody, you know, you even
need an account, right you can go on to donors
Choose and find a school, find one in your namehood
(12:00):
and actually see what teachers are requesting online.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
It never ceases to amaze me, as someone who has
two elementary school age kids, how often teachers are requesting
things and how one of the hot things, and you
know the WhatsApp chats every year is the teachers the
wish list on Amazon. So it's amazing what you guys
do there donors Choose. I didn't realize donors Choo has
(12:25):
been around for a long time. How has the mission
evolved since it was initially created?
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah, so I joined donors Choose as CEO just about
three years ago, a little over that. But donors Shoes
was founded way back in two thousand. That's like ancient history.
When we're talking about technology, right, stuff online, you know
that like several eras ago. It was one of the
first crowdfunding sites. In fact, I don't even think that
(12:56):
that word crowdfunding existed back at that point. And the
founder of donors Choose was a teacher. Actually I was
also a teacher. We were teaching at the same time,
but in different parts of the country. Charles Best, he
was teaching history high school in the Bronx. That started
in the Bronx, and it really just started as when
(13:16):
he saw that need it's the same need that you're
seeing with your kids teachers. It's true today, it was
true back then, and he started up this little effort
to get materials and books for his fellow teachers at
that Bronx High school and then it just started to
(13:36):
grow from there. Now something that say the same is
our core model. But what's changed is we now serve
way more schools. You know, we serve every hip code,
every district in the country, and we've also expanded the
kinds of requests that we can fulfill for teachers. And
so it started off, you know, sort of focused on books,
(13:59):
and we still do that, but we also do arts equipment,
we do sports equipment, we do all kinds of stuff
for teachers.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Maybe a rhetorical question. It strikes me that what I
believe is the greatest nation on Earth, the richest country
on earth, and we have to crowdsource supplies for school
kids and for teachers. How do you decide what kind
of projects qualify to be posted at DonorsChoose Dot organ
(14:29):
and who gets whose requests is granted?
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Yeah, well so we have we do vet every request,
but really our filter is just making sure that well,
one that we know it's a public school teacher and
we know where they teach, and so we can validate
you know, that it's an eligible teacher. The second thing
is we just read it and make sure that this
is a project that is focused on the needs of students.
(14:58):
And then the third is we make sure that the
stuff that's being requested and again it's all transparent on
our site, so anybody can can go on and look
at any project because you could actually see the list
of items, you know, and where they come from, like
what vendors, what stores, and we make sure that that
list of resources matches with you know, the project's description.
(15:21):
So we do all of that, but then you know,
beyond that, we really have a lot of trust. Frankly,
in what teachers are telling us their kids need, and
so we've had expansion into lots of different you know,
I kind of started to mention, you know, we serve
every subject area, you know, athletics, extracurriculars. We've had teachers
(15:44):
used donors choose to get bikes to teach kids how
to ride bikes. Actually, I had an amazing chance to
visit a school that had an incredible program to ensure
that low income kids had access to actually learn how
to ride bikes. It was really heartwarming. We have teachers
who use donors choose to supply some of the basic
needs of their kids, you know. And one of the
(16:06):
privileges of my job is that I get a chance
to actually go around the country and visit schools and
teachers that are using donors choose. And I've seen schools
create you know, coke closets where they stock up on
coats and backpacks for kids who have that need in
order to be successful in school. It really runs the gamut,
(16:28):
and we try to be pretty open to teachers telling
us actually what they need in order to meet their
kids' needs.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Have a few more minutes with Alex Carrier, CEO of
donors Choose the website and you can check it out
yourself is DonorsChoose dot org. You mentioned the bicycle project
that had such an effect on you. What are Can
you mention two or three other inspiring classroom projects that
you've come across at donors Choose.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
I mean, can we do another couple of seconds? Like
let me there are so many like I there's an
amazing classroom that I've I've lived here in d C.
There's an amazing pre K classroom that I've visited, the
cutest kids at a school here where the incredible teacher
(17:19):
outfitted her classroom with the most amazing sort of inspirational
things like I'll describe it, but you got to imagine
she got a bunch of of remember we're talking about
preschool kids, right, sort of costumes doctor costumes, and or
organized the day. Actually I got a chance to be
(17:40):
a sort of sample patient and brought in adults to
be patients as their kids as her kids were learning about,
you know, going to the doctor and the medical practice.
And then they later went and took the field trip
to to a animal shelter to learn about being a veterinarian.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
It was the cutest thing.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Those kids just lit up saw that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I've seen.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Teachers who have used donors shoes to help their kids
start businesses, like a teachers who got a bunch of
actually pretty fancy sort of espresso machines, And at first
we were like, wait, what's going on here? But actually
what they did was they created a school run and
student run cafe right in the school. I had a
(18:23):
chance to visit that, and it's you know, had a
chance for the kids to learn to apply their academic
skills to running the business, get a little entrepreneurship, and
also create an amazing community center where the staff and
parents and families could actually stop by and have that moment,
you know, get getting their latte at the school cafe.
(18:47):
So it really runs the gamut. I mean, there's no
end to the creativity that teachers bring.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
So that's fascinating. Do you do you see patterns in
what teachers need, what school needs, for example, rural versus
urban schools, are high poverty areas as opposed to wealthier areas.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Things like that, we do, and so we see trends
that happened both geographically as you're describing, and by student
demographic and also over time because we've been in operation
for twenty five years now, so we have this twenty
five year history where we can see certain kinds of resources,
(19:28):
certain kinds of technology, and other sorts of things sort
of you know, grow and diminish in popularity. So you know,
this may be no surprise, but we see it so
clearly in the data. Teachers more and more are really
being focused on the mental health of their kids, and
over the last two years in particular, like for example,
(19:49):
in our teacher surveys, that's the number one concern that
teachers have and so that's been a big trend. We
have seen a difference in in you know, I spoke
a little bit about this idea of basic needs. We
have a category internally we call it warmth, care and hunger,
and so that includes food, pantries, you know, clothes, et cetera.
(20:12):
We've seen that grow and we can see that targeted
to cities where the neatest greatest. Yeah, so all of
those trends, you know, not surprisingly, but basically it's a
testament to the work the teachers do to try to
understand what's going on with their own students.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
What about changes over the last few years pre and
post pandemic in terms of classrooms.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
Yes, yeah, so the number one is those the focus
on mental health. Like one way of thinking about it
is the teaching profession has always been hard, right, I mean,
it's rewarding, but it's really hard to be a teacher
in public schools. It was hard in twenty nineteen, and
(20:59):
then it got about out ten or twenty times harder
because all the additional responsibilities that teachers had suddenly they
had to do with you know, all kinds of stuff
with new technology, you know, right in addition to the
same kind of lesson planning that they had to do,
but do it remotely, do it hybrids. So teachers have
had to add that to their place. And this new
(21:22):
you know, concern and awareness which we thankfully have on
students whole child wellbeing and mental health, teachers are taking
that on too. And so so for example, not only
do we see this focus on mental health in our surveys,
but we see teachers creating requests on donors choose for
(21:44):
resources that help them to create spaces in their classroom.
They're really you know, when you become a public school teacher,
it's sort of you often are kind of put into
a blank box as your classroom and it's up to
you to outfit it. And so teachers are really trying
to create nooks and reading corners, and I mean I
was just looking at one today, you know, a cozy
(22:06):
reading retreat right in the classroom where kids could go
to read books, you know, so it's academic, but also
take brain breaks, you know, regulate emotions. And that's become
a part of what teachers, teachers work on, and that's
really accelerated over the last few years, you know, coming
out of the pandemic.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
And a lot of things that they try to do
with those classrooms is make the learning fun and an
environment where kids can be engaged. The website is donors
Choose dot org. Donors Choose dot org. Alex Carrier is
the CEO of the group. Thank you so much for
your time, the explanation and all the good you guys
(22:45):
are doing their Donors Choose appreciate.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It absolutely, and thank you to your listeners. Listeners have
contributed so many nominations. I'll say, definitely come to donors
Choose dot org, but also visit donors Choose dot org
slash iHeartRadio because this incredible partnership that we have and
it's really you know, your listeners that are driving it.
(23:07):
Let us celebrate and champion a bunch of teachers across
the country.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
All right, thank you, Manny. We'll be back with the
weekly show right after this.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
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Speaker 1 (24:14):
Hi Welcome back to the weekly show here on iHeartRadio.
It's on every weekend on Rock ninety five to five,
ninety three point nine Light FM, and one oh three
five Kiss FM's Mick Lee. I hope you've enjoyed the
topics we've discussed today. If you want to learn more
about our iHeartRadio Thank a Teacher program, you can go
to iHeartRadio dot com slash Teachers. As always, we love
(24:36):
spotlighting local charities and nonprofits that are doing great things
for our city and suburbs, So if you are part
of one, or you just have a favorite one that
you'd like us to know about, we can give them
the spotlight here on the radio. You can email me
directly Mick Lee at iHeartRadio dot com. And as always,
these shows go up on our podcast page, so if
you would like to check them out or listen to
(24:57):
today's episode again or previous one, you can start for
the weekly show on iHeartRadio. Thanks again, and we'll be
back with you next weekend right here
Welcome to the weekly show on iHeartRadio. It's on every
weekend on ninety three point nine Light FM, Rock ninety
five to five and one oh three five Kiss FM.
I'm Mick Lee, and this show is all about our
Chicago Land community. We keep you up to data on
things happening here locally. We also give you information happening
nationally and worldwide as well, and we love spotlighting local
(00:20):
charities and nonprofits. So if there's one that you are
really passionate about or maybe you represent, you can email
us directly Mick Lee at iHeartMedia dot com. Today on
the show, we're going to be talking with a representative
from Chase Community Bank. Our very own Delilah Iheartradios. Delilah,
she does Knights on ninety three point nine LIGHTFM, will
(00:40):
be at the All About Credit event here in Chicago
at a local Chase Community Bank. We will talk with
her in just seconds. We're also going to be talking
about our iHeartRadio Thank a Teacher powered by Donors Choose.
We'll be speaking with the CEO of Donors Choose, and
we'll also give you some info on how you can
now your favorite public school educator to get five thousand
(01:03):
dollars for their classroom in the for the upcoming school year.
That's on the way. First up, Robin Rock is here
to talk about that upcoming Chase Community Bank event.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Hey Robin, Hi, it's Robin Rock and I have a
very special guest joining me today. Who do I have
the pleasure speaking to?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Hi, Robin. This is Jared Evans.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I'm a community manager at Chase in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know, we love you guys at Chase, and we
are so grateful for what to do. And I was
hoping that maybe Jared, if you don't mind, you could
take a minute and talk to us about what a
Chase Community center is and what makes that different from
a typical bank branch.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Well, first of all, you know, the community centers came out,
I want to say the first one started in Harlem,
New York, and we opened up a second one in Minneapolis,
and then Chicago was the third one that we opened
in twenty twenty one. And you know, the community center,
(02:01):
think of it. I always tell people it's like going
to church. You know, after church, you sit and talk
with people, you have a good time, you have some food,
and then you start networking and using resources and connecting
people and so that's really what this community center concept
is all about. Our CEO, Jamie Diamond, said he wanted
(02:22):
to put a community center in these nineteen different locations,
and so there are nineteen.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I'm lucky to be number three.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
And what it is is designed for the branches to
build stronger ties to the community and provide banking services
and financial education to people who might not otherwise have
access to them. The look and feel is different from
a typical bank, but it is you can still do
your banking while at the same time we're having these workshops.
(02:51):
We're having financial health workshops, we're doing business networking events,
and we're allowing people to come in, even nonprofits and
other organizations to have meetings.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So it's a what I like to call a get
together place.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That is so cool. I love that. So let's talk.
I mean, when it comes to support, you know, we
kind of support the Chase Community Centers provided to the community.
I mean that's pretty substantial.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Everything we do is rooted in financial health. It's paramount
for us as a company. And whether it's saving for college,
financing a car, buying a home, or planning for retirement,
you know, Chase enables more people to turn their dreams
into reality, and we help connect people to these resources,
which is, you know, my role as a community manager.
(03:36):
Aside from doing financial health, we're making the connection to
the resources that we have. We're committed to being a
force for good in every community we serve. We empower individuals, families, businesses,
and the next generation with the tools, resources, and financial
knowledge they need to achieve financial health and resilience. I'll
(03:58):
say this, your local Chase brand isn't just a place
to bank. It's a community hub where families can find tools,
guidance and support. And really, far too often customers are
intimidated when they visit a bank. They don't know where
to start or who to approach when they have a question.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And it is my job and the job.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Of one hundred and fifty community managers like myself to
try to change that narrative.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I hear the word community a lot, and I love that.
I just want you to know, I love hearing that.
That makes me happy. So you know, you guys have
a special Chase Freedom Rise all about credit events and
that is coming up with ninety three point nine lightfm's
evening host Elilah, So I was hoping maybe you could
tell me about that and how people can get in
on this. I assume they can still attend.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Absolutely we want them to attend. I'm really excited that
iHeart and Chase Freedom Rise has partnered to create All
About Credit, an event series for young adults and their parents.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Navigating their early financial journey.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
We've already hosted these events, excited to say, in New
York and San Francisco, and it's finally coming here to
the Windy City to Chicago on augusta, twenty seventh. So
it's an informative panel with myself and one other Chase
expert that'll be joining us, another fellow community manager, and
(05:21):
indeed it is moderated by the legend herself, Delilah, the
Velvet voice of the night.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I've got my own hashtags for but I'm really excited.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I love it and yeah, yeah, So you know, the
date again is augusta, twenty seventh. It'll start at twelve
noon sharp, and it's going to be at our community center,
which you've heard me talk about, which is.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
At sixty six fifty South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
It's literally on the corner of sixty seventh and Stony Island.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Okay, so what is the goal of the All About
Credit event with Delilah? And I mean, I think I
have some ideas, but why in your opinion? Why is
it important?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Well, I'm glad you asked.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Really, the discussion will provide, you know, young adults and
their parents with the knowledge and the tools to start
them on their credit journey and help strengthen.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Their financial health.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
It will cover basics of credit obviously, including what it
is and why it matters, and how to check your
credit score, and we'll get into credit reports and how
to start building credit and even protect your credit.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
So we're going to cover.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
All of these items and have a very robust conversation.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Great event to attend with your kids, whether they're you know,
younger or college age. I mean right, that's I mean,
this is this is a cool way to learn. I
love this.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Tis the season right every all the kids are going
back to college or back to school in general, and
having these conversations are important. They don't happen enough at
the dinner table as they should, and so we're trying
to create that safe space for us to have these discussions.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's perfect, okay. So what's the best way for the
public to stay informed about Chane Community Bank events, Because
I mean this sounds pretty awesome and I'm sure you've
got more like than coming up.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Absolutely right, I'll tell you again.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We have nineteen now community centers in various cities across
the country, and if you want to check us out,
you can go to Chase dot com forward slash Family
Banking and this will provide you with resources for parents
and students. It'll even give you the branch locator, which
in the in the Greater Chicago Land area in the
(07:30):
state of Illinois, we have over two hundred and seventy branches.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
You can walk into any of those branches as well.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
And our bankers there are will certainly connect you to
the community managers that are closest to that market, and
certainly they can always come to the Stoney Island Community
Center and meet me in the flesh.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I will be glad to welcome the me in.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
So one more time, Jared, if you don't mind, could
you tell me about the Chase Freedom Rise All about
Credit event with ninety three point nine light fms me
Delilah the date and when and We're all the important details.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Absolutely Again, we are excited to partner with iHeart and
Chase Freedom Rise to bring you this all about credit activation.
It is happening August to twenty seventh next Wednesday, twelve
pm to two pm, and it will be at our
Chase Stoney Island Community Center, which is sixty six fifty
(08:27):
South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Perfect Jared Evans, you are just so amazing. I love
what you're doing and I appreciate you taking the time
to join us today.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Robin, is a pleasure to see you and talk with
you today on this important world.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Thank you so much for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Thank you, Robin Rock. This is iHeartRadio's weekly show here
on one O three five Kiss FM, Rock ninety five
to five and ninety three point nine LIGHTA FM. As
we continue at the show, iHeartRadio has been conducting our
Thank Teacher campaign where we recogniz amazing public school teachers
who go above and beyond and some of them are
(09:06):
going to get five thousand dollars toward their classroom for
this school year thanks to donors Choose. So we've got
the CEO of Donors Choose on to talk about that
and what they do to help out Across the United States.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
iHeartRadio has been conducting a fank a Teacher campaign. That
campaign has been powered by Donors Choose. But what does
Donors Choose? Well, we're lucky to be joined right now
by Alex Carriere, the CEO of Donors Choose. Alex, I
appreciate the time, Thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
Oh Manny, First of all, thank you for having us.
We are so thrilled to be in partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Yeah, we've been having a great time with it and
for a worthy cause. Obviously, we'll get into that in
a moment. For those who don't know though, Donors Choose,
let's start off with that. How would you describe the
organization in its simplest terms.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Sure, we are a nonprofit that supports public school teachers.
That's the heart of it. And the way that we
do that is we have an online platform. It's a
DonorsChoose dot org, and any public school teacher across the
country can come onto donors Choose and essentially create a
request for anything that they might need to meet the
(10:19):
needs of their students. And so we have teachers coming
on and requesting basic supplies or books or creative stuff,
and we read and vet all of those requests, make
sure we understand the learning objective, and then we post
them up online and through the generosity of an incredible
(10:40):
community of donors, folks come on the site and can
contribute to those requests, and then we sort of meet
the full amount of a request. It's a little bit
unlike other crowdfunding platforms. We actually don't send the cash,
but we actually send the stuff itself to the school.
It becomes part of the school. The stricts property, everything's transparent,
(11:02):
just to make sure that everybody knows exactly what the
impact they're having is. And that's our quals.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Is that one of the things that makes donors choose
different from some of the other education focused charities out there.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Yeah, I think that there are a few things that
make us different.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
I think we're in a community that's all aimed at
serving the needs of kids, So in that aspect, I
think we're similar to other organizations. But some of the
unique things about us are that we're basically in every
community in the country. You know, when we last did
our count, ninety percent of American schools and I'm talking
(11:38):
across the entire country have used donors Choose and we're
trying to tick that up, you know, getting closer to
one hundred percent. So we're in every community and all
of the teacher requests are actually viewable on our site.
And so even without donating anybody, you know, you even
need an account, right you can go on to donors
Choose and find a school, find one in your namehood
(12:00):
and actually see what teachers are requesting online.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
It never ceases to amaze me, as someone who has
two elementary school age kids, how often teachers are requesting
things and how one of the hot things, and you
know the WhatsApp chats every year is the teachers the
wish list on Amazon. So it's amazing what you guys
do there donors Choose. I didn't realize donors Choo has
(12:25):
been around for a long time. How has the mission
evolved since it was initially created?
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah, so I joined donors Choose as CEO just about
three years ago, a little over that. But donors Shoes
was founded way back in two thousand. That's like ancient history.
When we're talking about technology, right, stuff online, you know
that like several eras ago. It was one of the
first crowdfunding sites. In fact, I don't even think that
(12:56):
that word crowdfunding existed back at that point. And the
founder of donors Choose was a teacher. Actually I was
also a teacher. We were teaching at the same time,
but in different parts of the country. Charles Best, he
was teaching history high school in the Bronx. That started
in the Bronx, and it really just started as when
(13:16):
he saw that need it's the same need that you're
seeing with your kids teachers. It's true today, it was
true back then, and he started up this little effort
to get materials and books for his fellow teachers at
that Bronx High school and then it just started to
(13:36):
grow from there. Now something that say the same is
our core model. But what's changed is we now serve
way more schools. You know, we serve every hip code,
every district in the country, and we've also expanded the
kinds of requests that we can fulfill for teachers. And
so it started off, you know, sort of focused on books,
(13:59):
and we still do that, but we also do arts equipment,
we do sports equipment, we do all kinds of stuff
for teachers.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Maybe a rhetorical question. It strikes me that what I
believe is the greatest nation on Earth, the richest country
on earth, and we have to crowdsource supplies for school
kids and for teachers. How do you decide what kind
of projects qualify to be posted at DonorsChoose Dot organ
(14:29):
and who gets whose requests is granted?
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Yeah, well so we have we do vet every request,
but really our filter is just making sure that well,
one that we know it's a public school teacher and
we know where they teach, and so we can validate
you know, that it's an eligible teacher. The second thing
is we just read it and make sure that this
is a project that is focused on the needs of students.
(14:58):
And then the third is we make sure that the
stuff that's being requested and again it's all transparent on
our site, so anybody can can go on and look
at any project because you could actually see the list
of items, you know, and where they come from, like
what vendors, what stores, and we make sure that that
list of resources matches with you know, the project's description.
(15:21):
So we do all of that, but then you know,
beyond that, we really have a lot of trust. Frankly,
in what teachers are telling us their kids need, and
so we've had expansion into lots of different you know,
I kind of started to mention, you know, we serve
every subject area, you know, athletics, extracurriculars. We've had teachers
(15:44):
used donors choose to get bikes to teach kids how
to ride bikes. Actually, I had an amazing chance to
visit a school that had an incredible program to ensure
that low income kids had access to actually learn how
to ride bikes. It was really heartwarming. We have teachers
who use donors choose to supply some of the basic
needs of their kids, you know. And one of the
(16:06):
privileges of my job is that I get a chance
to actually go around the country and visit schools and
teachers that are using donors choose. And I've seen schools
create you know, coke closets where they stock up on
coats and backpacks for kids who have that need in
order to be successful in school. It really runs the gamut,
(16:28):
and we try to be pretty open to teachers telling
us actually what they need in order to meet their
kids' needs.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Have a few more minutes with Alex Carrier, CEO of
donors Choose the website and you can check it out
yourself is DonorsChoose dot org. You mentioned the bicycle project
that had such an effect on you. What are Can
you mention two or three other inspiring classroom projects that
you've come across at donors Choose.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
I mean, can we do another couple of seconds? Like
let me there are so many like I there's an
amazing classroom that I've I've lived here in d C.
There's an amazing pre K classroom that I've visited, the
cutest kids at a school here where the incredible teacher
(17:19):
outfitted her classroom with the most amazing sort of inspirational
things like I'll describe it, but you got to imagine
she got a bunch of of remember we're talking about
preschool kids, right, sort of costumes doctor costumes, and or
organized the day. Actually I got a chance to be
(17:40):
a sort of sample patient and brought in adults to
be patients as their kids as her kids were learning about,
you know, going to the doctor and the medical practice.
And then they later went and took the field trip
to to a animal shelter to learn about being a veterinarian.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
It was the cutest thing.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Those kids just lit up saw that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I've seen.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Teachers who have used donors shoes to help their kids
start businesses, like a teachers who got a bunch of
actually pretty fancy sort of espresso machines, And at first
we were like, wait, what's going on here? But actually
what they did was they created a school run and
student run cafe right in the school. I had a
(18:23):
chance to visit that, and it's you know, had a
chance for the kids to learn to apply their academic
skills to running the business, get a little entrepreneurship, and
also create an amazing community center where the staff and
parents and families could actually stop by and have that moment,
you know, get getting their latte at the school cafe.
(18:47):
So it really runs the gamut. I mean, there's no
end to the creativity that teachers bring.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
So that's fascinating. Do you do you see patterns in
what teachers need, what school needs, for example, rural versus
urban schools, are high poverty areas as opposed to wealthier areas.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Things like that, we do, and so we see trends
that happened both geographically as you're describing, and by student
demographic and also over time because we've been in operation
for twenty five years now, so we have this twenty
five year history where we can see certain kinds of resources,
(19:28):
certain kinds of technology, and other sorts of things sort
of you know, grow and diminish in popularity. So you know,
this may be no surprise, but we see it so
clearly in the data. Teachers more and more are really
being focused on the mental health of their kids, and
over the last two years in particular, like for example,
(19:49):
in our teacher surveys, that's the number one concern that
teachers have and so that's been a big trend. We
have seen a difference in in you know, I spoke
a little bit about this idea of basic needs. We
have a category internally we call it warmth, care and hunger,
and so that includes food, pantries, you know, clothes, et cetera.
(20:12):
We've seen that grow and we can see that targeted
to cities where the neatest greatest. Yeah, so all of
those trends, you know, not surprisingly, but basically it's a
testament to the work the teachers do to try to
understand what's going on with their own students.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
What about changes over the last few years pre and
post pandemic in terms of classrooms.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
Yes, yeah, so the number one is those the focus
on mental health. Like one way of thinking about it
is the teaching profession has always been hard, right, I mean,
it's rewarding, but it's really hard to be a teacher
in public schools. It was hard in twenty nineteen, and
(20:59):
then it got about out ten or twenty times harder
because all the additional responsibilities that teachers had suddenly they
had to do with you know, all kinds of stuff
with new technology, you know, right in addition to the
same kind of lesson planning that they had to do,
but do it remotely, do it hybrids. So teachers have
had to add that to their place. And this new
(21:22):
you know, concern and awareness which we thankfully have on
students whole child wellbeing and mental health, teachers are taking
that on too. And so so for example, not only
do we see this focus on mental health in our surveys,
but we see teachers creating requests on donors choose for
(21:44):
resources that help them to create spaces in their classroom.
They're really you know, when you become a public school teacher,
it's sort of you often are kind of put into
a blank box as your classroom and it's up to
you to outfit it. And so teachers are really trying
to create nooks and reading corners, and I mean I
was just looking at one today, you know, a cozy
(22:06):
reading retreat right in the classroom where kids could go
to read books, you know, so it's academic, but also
take brain breaks, you know, regulate emotions. And that's become
a part of what teachers, teachers work on, and that's
really accelerated over the last few years, you know, coming
out of the pandemic.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
And a lot of things that they try to do
with those classrooms is make the learning fun and an
environment where kids can be engaged. The website is donors
Choose dot org. Donors Choose dot org. Alex Carrier is
the CEO of the group. Thank you so much for
your time, the explanation and all the good you guys
(22:45):
are doing their Donors Choose appreciate.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It absolutely, and thank you to your listeners. Listeners have
contributed so many nominations. I'll say, definitely come to donors
Choose dot org, but also visit donors Choose dot org
slash iHeartRadio because this incredible partnership that we have and
it's really you know, your listeners that are driving it.
(23:07):
Let us celebrate and champion a bunch of teachers across
the country.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
All right, thank you, Manny. We'll be back with the
weekly show right after this.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
When you're high, you feel different, You think different, to
talk different, to draw different, you listen to music different.
But you probably knew that. The problem is you also
drive different, and not in a good way. That's why
driving high is illegal everywhere. So if you're high, just
don't drive. Make a plan to get a sober ride
(23:37):
because if you feel different, you drive different. Brought to
you by NITZA and the AD Council.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
As veterans, we're no strangers to helping others.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
That's what we were taught service before self. But we
do have one question for the veterans listening.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
When is the last time you reached out for help?
Speaker 6 (23:57):
If you or someone you know needs resource, whether it's
for stress, finances, employment, or mental health, don't wait reach out.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Find more information at VA dot gov slash reach. That's
VA dot slash Reach, brought to you by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs and the AD Council.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Hi Welcome back to the weekly show here on iHeartRadio.
It's on every weekend on Rock ninety five to five,
ninety three point nine Light FM, and one oh three
five Kiss FM's Mick Lee. I hope you've enjoyed the
topics we've discussed today. If you want to learn more
about our iHeartRadio Thank a Teacher program, you can go
to iHeartRadio dot com slash Teachers. As always, we love
(24:36):
spotlighting local charities and nonprofits that are doing great things
for our city and suburbs, So if you are part
of one, or you just have a favorite one that
you'd like us to know about, we can give them
the spotlight here on the radio. You can email me
directly Mick Lee at iHeartRadio dot com. And as always,
these shows go up on our podcast page, so if
you would like to check them out or listen to
(24:57):
today's episode again or previous one, you can start for
the weekly show on iHeartRadio. Thanks again, and we'll be
back with you next weekend right here
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