Teacher Wins $150,000 Prize — And Donates It All To Her School

[inanna]

Source: NPR

One thing's for sure: Nikki Bollerman believes in her school and the kids who go there. How else to explain Bollerman, 26, giving a $150,000 windfall to the Boston area public charter school where she teaches third grade?

The story comes to us from member station WBUR, which reports that Bollerman's generosity got the attention of Mayor Marty Walsh, who met with her and some of her students Monday.

"I want to thank Nikki for your kindness and your humility, and you are certainly a shining example of great things to the city of Boston," Walsh said. "We are grateful for your hard work and generosity. You have inspired lots of people with your selfless act."

According to WBUR's Fred Bever, Bollerman was awarded the money after she entered an online contest that called for entrants to make a wish for other people.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/12/24/372885008/teacher-wins-150-000-prize-and-donates-it-all-to-her-school?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

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Some GOOD NEWS. For Christmas Eve.

[Danmel]

1. what a generous kind and empathetic thing to do

Thanks for sharing that, it really brightened my day.

[inanna]

4. Brightened my day as well.

[shenmue]

2. Teachers are cool

[inanna]

5. Yeah, I'd say this particular teacher...

is very cool indeed.

[cosmicone]

3. She must have an amazing soul

but ... I personally hope she didn't give it all in a lump-sum or she will regret it later.

[liberalmike27]

6. Yea

Hope she kept the tax money she's going to owe.

I think it's great she did that. I don't believe I would--of course it's funny, you hear stories of broke people winning money, then everyone clamors for them to "donate" to this and that.

Right, you finally win a little something, where you could start a business, or perhaps not live in the gutter for a bit, but you want me to give it all away. I don't think so. OK, you want to contribute $5,000, fine. But it sounds like something someone with money, would be more likely to do. In any case, Kudos, but still....

[Andreboholm]

7. Maybe

Chances are she is so complacent and set in her ways that she honestly had no idea what else she could do with the money.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

8. Greater chance she sees acute needs all around her that are not being met.

I used to spend $100 - $300 a month on school when I was a teacher.

[aggiesal]

15. She's 26 ...

I can't believe a 26 year old is set in her ways.

Just saying.

[Posteritatis]

19. Gotta love how people pour out of the woodwork to crap on stories like these. (nt)

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

9. Can't you write off that kind of charity from your taxes?

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Over several years, yes

But as a deduction, not a tax credit. She would have a tax bill for the windfall and then have to juggle whatever amount is beyond her max as a charitable carryover each year until it is exhausted.

[TexasProgresive]

11. Well we know what you would do.

But why do you have to judge what this person did out of the kindness of her heart? If I were a teacher and came into a windfall like this I would perhaps spread it out to some of my fellow teachers to reimburse them for out of pocket expenses because they all buy supplies for their students. And if they went out to eat at a fancy restaurant-cool!

[shireen]

10. Teachers do so much for their students

They are unsung heroes. Thank you, DU Teachers. I've read your posts with great interest over the years and deeply appreciate you.

[7962]

13. Now THAT is someone to look up to! nt

[aggiesal]

14. Good soul, but ...

I would have put it in an endowment.

Kept in a fixed rate interest bearing account with stipulations
that only 10% of the interest can be used, and rolling over 90% back into
the endowment.

Then once yearly interest exceeds $100K, up the interest
usage to 50%, rolling over the remaining 50% back into the endowment,
until yearly interest reaches $200K, then up ithe usage to 90%,
allowing 10% to grow the endowment in perpetuity.

That way, instead of a 1 year donation of $125K, the district gets
a lifetime of money that only increases each year.

1 last note, absolutely no dollars can be used on charter schools or
anything resembling a charter school.

[Odin2005]

16. Teachers are some of the most wonderful human beings there are.

[Bandit]

17. Another "Union Thug"

[roody]

18. She may regret giving that to the school.

She may see a lot of it wasted.