Sonic Donates $10,000 to McKenzie Schools

McKENZIE (September 18) — SONIC today announced the brand has donated $10,000 this month to fund classroom projects at McKenzie public schools in honor of a nearby SONIC® location being recognized as one in the Top 50 SONICs in the country this year. To honor the SONIC crew at 15755 Highland Drive, the SONIC® Foundation donated $10,000 to support area schools, students and educators. The donation funded educational projects on DonorsChoose, a website that allows people to donate directly to classroom requests submitted by public school teachers across the U.S.
This local funding is part of a larger nationwide effort to honor the Top 50 teams in the DR PEPPER® SONIC® GAMES, an annual SONIC training initiative. In total, the SONIC Foundation will donate $500,000 in September to fund educational projects in schools across the country in honor of the Top 50 SONIC locations.
The SONIC® Foundation funded the following projects at McKenzie Middle School (MMS) and McKenzie Elementary School (MES).
Mrs. Beth Mathis, MMS vice principal: “Student Movement.” Mathis received outdoor equipment to encourage student movement during fifth grade students’ breaks.
Ms. Lauren Flannery, first grade: “Carnival Day” at MES and “Ms. Lauren’s Reading Nook.” On behalf of MES, Flannery received games for the school’s end-of-year Carnival Day. She also received a futon and different flexible seating options for her classroom reading area.
Ms. Kelly Simmons, kindergarten: “Glow Day” at MES. On behalf of MES, Simmons received glow necklaces, glow sticks and decorations for the school’s mid-year “Glow Day.”
Ms. Emily Bolin, second grade: “Ms. Emily’s Second Grade Class.” Bolin received an iPad, magnetic building materials for indoor playtime, books and desk chairs for her classroom.
Ms. Morgan Shell, special education: “Learning Without Limits in Special Education.” Shell received general classroom supplies and math-based games.
Ms. Jana Stafford, kindergarten: “Kindergarten Learning Fun.” Stafford received fun instructional materials for her classroom.
Ms. Cari Moore, first grade: “Fresh Start in 1st Grade.” Moore received a bench to offer both flexible seating for students and storage space for a water bottle station, small dry erase boards and personal erasers and markers for her students.
Ms. Kelsey Brown, first grade: “Classroom Boost: Storage & Student Incentives.” Brown received rewards and incentives for her students and storage cabinets for her classroom.
Ms. Ashley Crowell, first grade: “Mrs. Ashley’s 1st Grade.” Crowell received science and reading-based resources and rewards for her students.
Ms. Rachel Edlin, first grade: “Rewarding the Joy of Learning” and “Cozy Reading Nook.” Edlin received candy and rewards for a classroom treasure box, and a bookshelf and a carpet for her classroom reading area.
Mrs. Lauren Banuelos, kindergarten: “Lighting the Way to Literacy.” Banuelos received materials for small group instruction and flexible seating for her classroom reading area.
Ms. Brandy Turman, second grade: “Help Bring a Dragon-Themed Reading Adventure to Life!” Turman received books about dragons, fitting with her classroom theme, some of which teach important lessons about autism and stealing. She also received laptop desks.
The SONIC® Foundation approved these donation requests on September 1. Within days, McKenzie Elementary School Principal Tonya Brown said it looked like Christmas came early when all of the donated packages arrived at the school. The new furniture and materials have already become important tools in furthering McKenzie students’ education.