Livia, Biz Stone Among Donors Who Give $1,395,162 to Contra Costa County Schools

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - Contra Costa County schoolteachers have received $1,395,162 in voluntary funding thus far during the 2015-2016 school year, according to figures shown on a website meant to encourage financial help for projects in classrooms.

DonorsChoose.org says to date, 1,433 projects in Contra Costa County have been funded, helping 132,753 students and 957 teachers.

Among the donors in Contra Costa County are Livia and Biz Stone, Co-founder of Twitter and co-founder and CEO of Askjelly.com.

"My students need 10 noise-cancelling headphones to give them a better learning environment," wrote Ms. Foos at Montevideo Elementary School in San Ramon. Her project received the full funding requested of $231, and helps 31 students.

"We need a telephoto lens, lens hoods, ring flash, cap holder, screen protector, filter kits, gloves, packing tape, and book to make the most out of our new camera," wrote Ms. Horn in Pleasant Hill at Sequoia Middle School. Her request was fully funded for $607.

DonorsChoose.org allows local schoolteachers and educators to post information about unique projects that need funding for their classrooms, and specify the amount of money needed for the project.

Throughout the United States, the website says $418,120,412 has been donated to classroom projects to date.

CBS News says Google co-founder Sergey Brin and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton together pledged $3.2 million to match donations on DonorsChoose.org beginning March 10th.

The Board of Directors includes, among others, comedian Stephen Colbert.

"Dear Stephen Colbert," wrote one student, and announced on CBS. "Thank you for donating... We heard you have a TV show but it is too late for us to watch. Are you funny?"

According to CBS, the list of famous funders in for Northern California schools includes:

• Livia and Biz Stone, Co-founder of Twitter and co-founder and CEO of Askjelly.com, supporting Boston, MA and Contra Costa County, CA
• Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, Actor and wife, supporting Sonoma County, CA
• Sobrato Family Foundation, Supporting Santa Clara County, CA and Southern Alameda County, CA
• Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, supporting San Mateo County, CA
• David Sze, Venture capitalist, supporting Monterey County, CA
• Angela and David Filo, Yellow Chair Foundation, supporting Kansas, Louisiana, Solano, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Stanislaus, Yolo, and Fresno Counties, CA and northern Alameda County, CA

• Tim Ferriss, Author of "The 4-Hour Work Week," supporting Sacramento, CA, Long Island, NY and New Hampshire
• Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, and founder of LeanIn.org, supporting Imperial, Modoc, Tehama, Tulare, Trinity, Siskiyou, Merced, Lake, Glenn, and Madera Counties, CA
• Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO and co-founder, Yelp, supporting Oakland, CA

By visiting DonorsChoose.org here, you can give money to a classroom project that appeals to you.

-image via DonorsChoose.org