Horace Mann Now National Sponsor Of DonorsChoose.org

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) announced today a national sponsorship with DonorsChoose.org, a not-for-profit organization that connects donors to teachers with classroom projects in need of funding.

Horace Mann agents around the country will use the sponsorship to instruct teachers and administrators about the program and how to post projects on the DonorsChoose.org website. "While the organization is relatively well known in large metropolitan areas, educators in rural to medium-size communities have much less knowledge about how to get funding for school supplies using DonorsChoose.org," says Horace Mann President and Chief Executive Officer Pete Heckman.  In a recent survey by Horace Mann, over 75 percent of the 1,000 educators responding indicated they had never heard of DonorsChoose.org.

Schools often lack funding for supplies or equipment required for special projects and even routine classroom activities.  As a result, teachers often pay for the supplies out of their own pockets.  Heckman notes that Horace Mann and DonorsChoose.org share a similar goal: both are dedicated to helping educators.   "As a company, we believe we're putting our dollars in the right place – into America's classrooms," said Heckman. 

Since 2000, more than $71 million of donations made through DonorsChoose.org have funded more than 175,000 public school classroom projects benefiting over four million students. On average, three of every four projects posted to DonorsChoose.org requesting $400 or less in materials are funded. Common resources funded are classroom supplies, technology and books.

To post a project, a teacher must work in the public school system, be full-time and spend at least 75 percent of his or her time working with students. Nurses, guidance counselors and other educators meeting these criteria may post projects, as well. At this time, administrators, volunteers, staff developers, paraprofessionals, teacher aides and substitute teachers cannot request resources at DonorsChoose.org.