Gymboree is announcing an initiative to provide early learners throughout the country with the necessary supplies for creative play.

According to the company's statement and DonorsChoose.org, more than 1,700,000 students in the country will not have adequate access to art supplies to facilitate creative play this fall.

"Creative expression is essential to all kids, yet many don't have access to basic tools like crayons, markers and paint. That's why we're teaming up with DonorsChoose.org to bring coloring supplies to students in your community," said the company's website.

And so, beginning yesterday, Gymboree, "makers of colorful, coordinated clothing collections, will begin raising money in Gymboree and Gymboree Outlet stores, to fund arts and crafts requests made by teachers on DonorsChoose.org. The goal is to fulfill classroom requests in every county where there is a Gymboree retail location," according to the company's statement.

The initiative is called "Let's Color Together," and began with a surprise classroom visit in Oakland, C.A., this past June. Gymboree has also launched the site www.gymboree.com/colortogether, where it is collecting donations as well as offering free resources for educators. It's site features printable coloring worksheets as well as several creativity-boosting activities to help inspire play.

Gymboree will be accepting donations from July 20 until September 7, 2015 and all donations will go to a local K-5 classroom for specifically requested and needed art materials.

"The money donated goes to projects in the highest-need schools in the donor's community that has the least amount of time remaining before the project request expires," the company said.

Read more about "Color Together" here and comment with your thoughts below.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

07/21/2015