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School’s out, but recognition still pouring in for local schools and educators

3 min read

3 min read

June 19, 2018

H&R Block


School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that the hard work of schools and educators has gone unnoticed. This year, H&R Block recognized schools and organizations from Columbia, South Carolina; Kansas City, Kansas; and Sarasota, Florida for their efforts to better their communities.

Teachers of the Block earn extra credit in Columbia, South Carolina

Born through a partnership with H&R Block, the Richland One School District in Columbia, South Carolina, started a program to recognize top teachers from its 52 schools. For the 2017-2018 school year, the school district, with help from their principals, carefully selected three teachers every month for their dedication to helping students and others in the community.

“Congratulations to all the Teacher of the Block winners in the Richland One School District,” said Joe Carraway, district general manager at H&R Block. “We’ve been so impressed with the teachers who have won and are thrilled to recognize them.”

Church opens school and keeps on giving in Kansas City, Kansas

Since St. Peter C.M.E. (Christian Methodist Episcopal) Church first opened its doors in Kansas City, Kansas, the church started offering a partially state-funded preschool program to nearly 50 students. Focusing on school-aged kids does not stop there. St. Peter’s also adopted a nearby middle school to help provide necessities like food and clothing for students of families living at the poverty level.

Now St. Peter’s is celebrating a big win: its school earned $20,000 from H&R Block’s nonprofit referral program to help further their efforts of serving those in the Kansas City, Kansas, community.

“There is no better feeling than to give back to our communities,” said Jacque Doan, H&R Block district general manager. “We love to team up with our schools so we can help them raise funds and help our clients in the Kansas City region, where we live, work and shop.”

Fundraiser helps with scholarship opportunities in Sarasota, Florida

SunCoast Blood Bank out of Sarasota, Florida, first opened its doors more than six decades ago. Today they hold more than 1,000 blood drives annually. To do this they rely on community volunteers, many of them students, to help with their events.

For the second year in a row, SunCoast Blood Bank participated in H&R Block’s nonprofit referral program. This year they received a check from H&R Block for more than $5,000 to help with their efforts in the Sarasota area.

But the giving does not stop there. SunCoast Blood Bank decided to thank the high school seniors who spent hours volunteering at the blood bank by using the money it earned from H&R Block to fund their scholarship program.

In all, the SunCoast Blood Bank awarded 51 scholarships to students who want to major in the sciences or study phlebotomy.

Wondering what phlebotomy is?

Next time you are in the doctor’s office to get your blood drawn, ask the person with the needle.

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