A New Kind of PTO
Three years ago, a group of men determined to make a difference in education founded Men4Ed.
Men4Ed is gathering 1000 men and asking for a $1,000 donation to build a $1,000,000 endowment to make a difference in the lives of students outside the classroom. Founder Moe Hickey noted “All of the money goes to underserved students. We work to identify programs outside of school to help these kids.”
Membership is easy. Instead of meetings, the group invites men involved in the local schools to meet at the Wasatch Brew Pub. There, they discuss programs, ideas, and brainstorm how to support students. Hickey explained, “Men4Ed is a little social, a little volunteerism and no meetings.”
Men4Ed has a few female members. Often, women will make the $1,000 donation and gift the membership to a husband or grandfather. Andrew Caplan joined because, “I think fathers’ participation in our community’s education should be higher.”
Members give time, treasure and talent. For example Men4Ed helped with the garden at Ecker Hill Middle School and read to children on Dr. Seuss Day.
In addition to the endowment, the men step up and step in to support students at all of the Park City schools. Julie Hooker, a teacher at Park City High School, said, “When I have a student sleeping on a couch without a pillow or a child that needs soccer cleats, I call a man from Men4Ed. By the end of the day, they have networked to provide everything that student needs to be successful in and out of the classroom.”
Men4ed@pcschools.us
pcef4kids.org/how-you-can-help/men4ed
