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Adopt-A-School

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 56 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. 

Adopt-A-School has expanded to include 13 schools across Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Marengo, and Pickens counties. 

For more information about Adopt-A-School and how your business or organization can support a public school in West Alabama, email carolyn@westalabamachamber.com or call (205) 391-0556. We have a school for you!

Why Have An Adopt-A-School Program?

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:

Pillars of Education

  • Literacy: Providing support for efforts that promote grade level reading and the development of literate citizens, as well as a culture of literacy in the community.
  • Character: Working together to foster character development in our students to improve their lives, inspire success, and enrich the spirit of our communities. 
  • Elevating Educators: Teaming up with educators by providing support, addressing needs, and highlighting efforts in and our of the classroom. 
  • Career Pathways: Walking alongside students as they acquire employability skills as they charter a course for their future. Guide them along career pathways that pique their interest, capitalize on their abilities, and showcase their skills.


Other Opportunities

  • 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
  • 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?

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

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

What Is Required To Become An Adopter?

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).

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.

  • Abraservice (2 schools)
  • AFFLINK
  • Alabama Credit Union (2 schools)
  • *Alabama ONE (8 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 (2 schools)
  • BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing
  • BloGo Salon + Skin Wellness
  • *Boss Tues, LLC
  • Bryant Bank
  • Cadence Bank, N.A
  • CB&S Bank
  • C&J Resources, LLC – Tutoring Services
  • The Charm District
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • *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)
  • Northport Funeral & Cremation Service
  • Northport Medical Center
  • North River Church
  • NorthRiver Yacht Club
  • Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc.
  • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
  • 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
  • SMP Alabama Automotive Systems Inc./Motherson Group
  • *SouthFresh Feeds
  • Southland Benefit Solutions, LLC
  • Southland Transportation Group
  • Spiller Furniture & Mattress
  • STAR COOPERATION, INC.
  • *Stillman College (2 schools)
  • Synovus
  • Thompson Tractor Company, Inc.
  • Tiger Rock Martial Arts, Northport
  • *Tishabee Nonprofit Organization
  • Truth & Grace Law Office
  • TTL, Inc.
  • TuscaBlue
  • Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola Bottling Company
  • Tuscaloosa Music Club
  • Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra
  • The University of Alabama OTIDE (2 schools)
  • Vulcan Materials Company
  • 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., Beta Eta Zeta Chapter
  • ZF Chassis Systems, LLC (2 schools)

Annual Report

Coordinator Form

Annual Plan

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 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 23

Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament

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.


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