Mall of America® celebrates teachers with the launch of its Community Foundation
The Mall of America Community Foundation will kick off with a Teacher Appreciation event in Nickelodeon Universe®
BLOOMINGTON, MN — May 2, 2023
Mall of America® proudly announces the launch of the Mall of America Community Foundation, a 501(c)3. Over the last 30 years, the Mall has embraced a tradition of giving back to the community by helping to raise millions of dollars alongside its charitable partners to bring positive change. The Foundation will allow Mall of America to further enhance its philanthropic efforts to have an even greater impact on the community.
One of the four key pillars of the Foundation is making measurable change in education. To celebrate educators, Mall of America is launching its Foundation with a special Teacher Appreciation event. On Sunday, May 7 from 8-11 a.m., Nickelodeon Universe® will be open exclusively to more than 3,500 Minnesota teachers and their guests. Teachers will also be receiving special surprise and delights throughout the morning. The event leads right into Teacher Appreciation Week, allowing Mall of America to say thank you to our educators.
AdoptAClassroom.org will be participating in the event, by receiving the Foundation’s first donation. On average, teachers are spending $860 of their own money each year to equip their classrooms. AdoptAClassroom.org is a national nonprofit that funds PreK-12 teachers and schools across the U.S. to help
“As many teachers are feeling the fatigue from the school year and long Minnesota winter, it is the perfect time to make them feel special and have some fun,” said Jill Renslow, Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer, Mall of America. “We felt recognizing the incredible efforts of the teachers in our community was the right way to officially launch our Foundation. Teachers are the backbone of our society, and we deeply appreciate all that they do.”
Along with education, the other three pillars of the Mall of America Community Foundation are mental health, community wellness, and financial stability. These four pillars were identified as areas of focus for the Foundation with the intention of creating a cumulative ripple effect. When families feel economically stable, kids can learn. When a person’s mental health is prioritized, their physical health can improve as well. Additionally, all the dollars raised through the Foundation will stay local,
“We have had the most heartwarming stories come from our countless charitable events over the past three decades, and we felt the time was right to take our efforts to the next level by creating our own Foundation,” said Sara Durhman, Mall of America Community Foundation President and Director, Community Relations. “Education, financial stability, and physical and mental health are fundamentals that lay a foundation to help people thrive. We are dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for the people in our community.”
Media is invited to attend the Teacher Appreciation event on Sunday, May 7 from 8-11 a.m. in Nickelodeon Universe.
ABOUT MALL OF AMERICA
At 5.6 million square feet, Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America with up to 520 world-class retail stores and restaurants; Nickelodeon Universe, a 7-acre indoor theme park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium; FlyOver America; Crayola Experience; and more. The Mall opened in 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and adjacent to MSP International Airport. Follow Mall of America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Download the Mall of America app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.
###