Local teachers benefit from Walmart Teacher Rewards program

Walmart presented 20 teachers from Rehoboth Elementary School with $50 reward cards Oct. 20 to purchase classroom supplies that will help students start the school year off right as part of the company's Teacher Rewards program. For the sixth year, Walmart will donate over $5 million to provide 100,000 teachers across the United States with reward cards to help offset the cost of classroom expenses at the beginning of the school year.

These funds come at a critical time, as many teachers will spend an estimated $1,000 of their own money to ensure their students have the supplies they need to learn throughout the school year.

“We are proud to honor our community's teachers, who give time and often their own money to ensure our students have everything they need to be successful throughout the school year,” said Community Involvement Coordinator Lonnie Brown. “At Walmart, we are dedicated to supporting our nation's teachers by providing support and resources needed to continue educating the future leaders of our community.”

The Teacher Rewards program is an extension of Walmart's ongoing support of local education initiatives that help students better prepare for their future. In 2013, Walmart and its foundation donated more than $44 million to fund education programs across the country.

Shown are in back (l-r) Denise Subrick, Walter Hetfield, and Rich Lantz; third row Dawn Dorman, Shelley Lias-Maull, Jill Silicato, Ashley Hayes, Brenda Hazzard, Melissa Dawson, Jennifer Stephens, Dawn Quigley, and Julie Yakimowicz; second row Karen Kea, George Meili, Jacqueline Kisiel, Cody Smith, and Khara Bauer. In front are Lisa Craig, Kim Cross, Lonnie Brown, and Erin Bailey.