11 May WHATABURGER JOINS THE PALM PROJECT INITIATIVE

The Baldwin County Education Coalition is excited to announce that Whataburger has joined the Palm Project initiative as its newest investor!

Palm Project is an in-school and online resource to provide tangible needs for Baldwin County students to reduce barriers in education, enhance academic achievement and support social-emotional development.

There are many factors of stress that can negatively impact students’ ability to perform their best inside and outside of the classroom — through Palm Project, these stressors are reduced to help students focus on their education. With 49% of Baldwin County students classified as poverty, the need is great. This effort will provide essential tangible items for a child’s academic success.

As part of their investment, Whataburger will be providing financial support to Palm Project, that will directly impact four schools in Baldwin County’s Public School system. Additionally, Whataburger is providing program support and sponsorship of the Coalition’s annual events such as the Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference, Baldwin County Teacher of the Year banquet and the Golf Classic.

Whataburger’s contributions to Palm Project will keep Foley High School, Foley Middle School, Foley Elementary School and Daphne Elementary School’s Care Closets stocked so students are set up for success both in and out of the classroom.

“Being the third-largest school district in the state, with so much rapid growth in Baldwin County, not everyone realizes the needs of the students living in the district,” says Terry Burkle, the Coalition’s Executive Director. “We are very reliant and grateful for outside partnership and investment such as this to help meet the basic needs of our students.”

Whataburger is also awarding four $500 teacher grants as a part of their investment, one at each of their supported schools, to fund the needs and priorities of teachers in their individual classrooms. They will also be providing in-kind donations of branded resources for each care closet and engaging other opportunities that align with Whataburger’s Systemwide WhataTeacher initiative.

The Coalition is grateful for the support that Whataburger has contributed to Palm Project and the Coalition’s efforts to reduce barriers in learning, enhance academic achievement and support social-emotional development in Baldwin County Public School students.