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Adopt-A-School

Connecting Business and Education

Initiated in 1985, the Adopt-A-School program is an effective grassroots partnership between education and the business and private sectors of Tuscaloosa County. The purpose of the program is to utilize the vast amounts of human resources and talents of the business community to strengthen, enhance, and enrich the quality of education in our 55 public schools of the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School systems.

A joint partnership between The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems, the program has created an effective working relationship between the business and industrial community and the local school systems and has become an expected part of our community's educational fabric connecting business and education. Businesses and organizations may choose to participate in the program as an ADOPTER by partnering with a specific school, by sponsoring the overall program financially as a SUSTAINER, or by supporting the annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament.

Why Have An Adopt-A-School Program?

A strong public school system is basic to the health and growth of a community. Quality schools attract people to live in the area. The Adopt-A-School program strengthens and improves our schools, creates a climate of involvement and interaction between businesses and schools and involves the community in preparing for its own economic future. We are growing our own workforce. The successful business-education partnership program proves that corporate America and our school systems can work cooperatively to make a positive impact in our community. The businesses involved get a great experience being part of the program plus returns on the investment, including important exposure.

What do Adopters Do?

Adopt-A-School partners set realistic goals that are agreeable to all involved. The overall objectives of the partnership are flexible in order to utilize the resources of the adopter to meet the needs of the school, and each partnership is uniquely designed to bring about positive outcomes for all those involved.

Adopters initiate activities that encourage students and enrich their educational experiences. While developing strong person-to-person relationships, Adopt-A-School partners engage in a variety of projects in some of the following categories:

Academic Enrichment/Career Awareness: Provide readers for classes; host job shadowing opportunities; conduct interview skills workshops; participate in career days; provide newspapers for classroom instruction; serve as resource speakers or tutors
Student Incentives/Motivation: sponsor awards for bringing up grades, most improved student, perfect attendance; sponsor academic awards banquet, citizenship projects, students of the month; be a mentor for a student
Cultural Enrichment: develop or sponsor arts festivals; sponsor visits by performing artists; provide scholarships to local cultural events
Improving School Environment: donate equipment; assist with landscaping; participate in clean up days or beautification projects at school
Faculty Support and Recognition: assist with classes in cafeteria during lunch; host a "Welcome Back" reception for teachers; award mini-grants for teachers or departments; recognize teachers during American Education Week or Teacher Appreciation Week
Community Involvement: recycle phone books, newspaper, cans, soup labels; provide assistance for school in transporting recycled products; assist families in need; supplement clothes closet for school; furnish school supplies

What Are The Benefits?

An Adopt-A-School investment yields high returns to...

The Company and Its Employees

Well-educated students that become a qualified workforce
Positive exposure to customer base
Quality educational services that benefit families of employees
Increased student understanding of private enterprise system
Better knowledge of public education systems in Tuscaloosa
Personal satisfaction from participation in volunteer services
Networking with other businesses participating in the program

The Community

Strong school system
Literate citizenry
Well-prepared work force
Residential and business expansion
Improved tax base as new business is attracted
Increased civic cooperation

What Is Required To Become An Adopter?

Adopt-A-School is the commitment of time, energy, and expertise of a business or organization to an individual school. The overall objectives of each partnership are flexible and the relationships grow and flourish through a climate of active involvement and interaction between the school and the adopter.

The following criteria are minimum standards for any business or organization serving as an adopter to a school:

Adopters must be Chamber of Commerce members with membership being maintained throughout the partnership.
The adopter will appoint a coordinator and committee to meet with the school to plan and implement partnership activities and projects.
The adopter and school will interact on a regular basis during the school year.
The adopter will submit an End-of-year Report to the program director.
The adopter will send a rep to the annual Adopt-A-School Kickoff event (optional district-wide coordinator meetings are held at the Chamber office during the school year).

The Schools and Their Students

Heightened motivation for learning
Enriched curriculum experience
Increased career awareness
Better understanding of private enterprise system
Improved preparation for world of work
Firsthand experience with models of success
Direct interaction with adults from community
Enhanced understanding of larger community on-the-job opportunities

Current Adopters

THANKS to the following organizations for serving as a partner with one or more public schools in the
Tuscaloosa City and County School Systems, and *West Alabama.

AFFLINK
Alabama Credit Union (2 schools)
*Alabama ONE (7 schools)
Alabama Power (2 schools)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
ARD Logistics-Alabama, LLC
Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa
Award Company of America
Bailey’s Tiger-Rock Martial Arts (3 schools)
BankFirst
BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing
BloGo Salon + Skin Wellness
Bolta US
Bryant Bank
Cadence Bank, N.A
Capital Real Estate
CB&S Bank
Chick-fil-A at Midtown
Chick-fil-A at Northport (2 schools)
Chick-fil-A at Tuscaloosa South (2 schools)
*Cook Unity in the Community (2 schools)
DCH Regional Medical Center
Edward Jones – Shabaka McKey
Embassy Suites Downtown Tuscaloosa
*Eutaw High Class of 1979 Foundation
First Federal Bank
*Freedom Rock Church
Globe Life Liberty National Division The Odell Agency
*Greene County Education Retirees Association
*Greene County Park and Recreation
Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa
Harrison Construction Company, Inc.
Healing the World with the Word Ministries
Hudson-Poole Fine Jewelers
Hunt Refining Company
JacQuan D. Winters, Realtor – Pritchett-Moore Real Estate
Jalapeños Mexican Grill
Jason's Deli
Junior League of Tuscaloosa
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Tusc. Alumni Chapter
Kappa Alpha Psi, Northport Alumni Chapter
Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation
*The Lance Hocutt Financial Group
Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association
Lear Corporation
The Legacy Connection
*M&A Auto Diesel, LLC
McAbee Construction, Inc. (2 schools)
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (3 schools)
Milo’s Hamburgers (2 schools)
*Mills Pharmacy (2 schools)
*New Generation Community Outreach
Northport Funeral & Cremation Service
Northport Medical Center
North River Church
NorthRiver Yacht Club
Northside Primary Care (2 schools)
Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
ONIN Staffing
Parker Towing Company
P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Inc.
Perfect Shine, Inc.
Phifer Incorporated
*Power and Rubber Supply, Inc.
The Radiology Clinic
Raymond James & Associates
Regions Bank
Riverview Orthodontics
Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa
*Schnellecke Logistics
*Shelton State Community College (4 schools)
SmartBank
Smile Doctors of Tuscaloosa
SMP Alabama Automotive Systems Inc./Motherson Group
*SouthFresh Feeds
Southland Benefit Solutions, LLC
Southland Transportation Group
Spiller Furniture & Mattress
SSAB Wear Solutions (2 schools)
STAR COOPERATION, INC.
*Stillman College (2 schools)
Synovus
Thompson Tractor Company, Inc.
Tiger Rock Martial Arts, Northport
*Tishabee Nonprofit Organization
Triad Property Management
TTL, Inc.
TuscaBlue
Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Tuscaloosa Music Club
*Tuscaloosa SAFE Center
Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra
United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama
The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies (2 schools)
Vulcan Materials Company
Walmart Neighborhood Market - Tuscaloosa
Walmart Skyland #0715
Warrior Met Coal (3 schools)
The Westervelt Company
*Whatley Health Services, Inc.
Woodforest National Bank, Northport
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Tuscaloosa
ZF Chassis Systems, LLC (2 schools)

Annual Report

Click Here

Coordinator Form

Click Here

2023 Adopt-A-School Sustainers

While Adopters are paired with a specific school and give support through donated time, expertise, and financial commitments, Sustainers provide the financial support for the overall program. The financial support is necessary for the coordination and administrative function of the entire program, allowing the program to:

Provide coordinator workshops teaching our partners how to get the most out of their partnerships
Maintain training manuals and educational materials to support partnerships
Provide Adopt-A-School Annual Report - a recruitment publication summarizing partnership activities
Provide administrative support to the Adopt-A-School program through recruitment and training of new business partners for schools.
Coordinate workforce development educational opportunities for school counselors and teachers

Teacher Level Sustainers

West Alabama Pediatrics

Mentor Level Sustainers

Northport Auto Supply
Parker Towing Company, Inc.
Robertson Banking Company

Adopt-A-School Spotlight Sponsors

Great Day Tuscaloosa ~ WJRD 1150 AM & 102.1 FM/ROCK 106.9/The Blessing 96.1 ~ WVUA TV

Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament

Each fall area golfers hit the greens to support the Adopt-A-School program. Held at the Ol' Colony Golf Course, the four-man scramble tournament offers an opportunity for golfers and area businesses to provide financial support for the Adopt-A-School program and direct financial support for area schools. Each golfer designates a public school of his/her choice to help the schools qualify for cash prizes. Additionally, a variety of tournament sponsorships are available.

Save the Date: September 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM and 1 PM flights at Ol' Colony Golf Tournament. Registration will open in June.

Contact:
Carolyn Tubbs
Director of Education Programs
(205) 391-0556 | carolyn@westalabamachamber.com

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