For Immediate Release
Viera, FL: Brevard Schools Foundation is pleased to announce that the Palaniyandi family of Indialantic, Florida has donated a gift of $100,001 in honor of family patriarch, Pillai Palaniyandi, who recently celebrated his 103rd birthday. The funds will support The Supply Zone for Teachers, a service of Brevard Schools Foundation.
Education is a cause that is close to the heart of the Palaniyandi family, and especially to Mr. Pillai aka “Thatha” who began his career as a primary school teacher and retired as a high school principal. Mr. Pillai, a world traveler also wrote text books which were used to teach 3rd grade through 10th grade in India. He also won Teacher of the Year for his entire state in the year 1970. Carrying on the proud tradition, one of Mr. Pillai’s grandsons, Arjun Ravindran, won Teacher of the Year in Kansas City, Missouri just days before this gift was made.
“We have been long-time supporters of The Supply Zone and of the work of Brevard Schools Foundation” said Ambika Ravindran, daughter-in-law of Mr. Pillai and hostess of the annual Supply Zone fundraiser. “We have seen the need grow here in Brevard County, and we also know how hard it is for teachers to try to supply their students with materials when they themselves are struggling to pay their own bills.” Part of the funds will provide new teachers with supplies to help them as they start their teaching career. The gift will also be used to help ensure hygiene kits are available to students who need them most. Each kit costs $14 and Ravindran has made it her personal mission to keep these kits on the shelves. In just 24 hours, she raised an additional $5,000 from friends and family specifically for hygiene and feminine products. She continued, “When everyone gives something, together we can change lives for students and teachers in our community.”
Some may be wondering what the significance of the $1 in the $100,001 total represents. In the Indian culture, it is believed you should always give a little more than you are able. This gift honors not only Thatha’s legacy in education, but the culture and heritage which inspires their generosity.
”We’re overwhelmed by this generous gift in honor of ‘Thatha’,” said Janice Kershaw, President of Brevard Schools Foundation. “It will allow us to honor his lifelong work in education for years to come.” Kershaw said that part of the gift will be placed in an endowment honoring Mr. Pillai, so that resources will be available to meet future needs.
About Brevard Schools Foundation and Supply Zone for Teachers
The Supply Zone for Teachers, a service of Brevard Schools Foundation, is a resource center that provides free school supplies to local teachers and students at high-poverty schools. This “store” is stocked entirely through donations and is located at Clearlake Education Center in Cocoa, Florida. Brevard Schools Foundation opened the Supply Zone in 2014.
Established in 1987, the Brevard Schools Foundation is a direct-support, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which matches community resources with the needs of schools. Support may be in the form of financial contributions or in-kind gifts of goods or services. The Foundation was recently ranked 8th in the nation for supporting public education and has provided more than $47 million in benefit to Brevard Public Schools. For more information, please visit www.brevardschoolsfoundation.org.
For more information please contact: Katherine Allen, allen.katherine@brevardschools.org or 321-633-1000 ext. 474