We are delighted to welcome a new member of the PENCIL team! Kendall Adams has joined in the role of PENCIL Box Part-Time Volunteer Coordinator, assisting our team and our educators while they shop. Kendall is an MNPS graduate, and she is excited to help educators at the Box!

Thanks to donations from individuals across Nashville, Antioch High School students have received fully catered breakfasts from @ChickfilA for the last two days. We are so grateful to see the Nashville community helping Antioch students to feel seen and appreciated.

Our MNPS community is mourning the loss of two Antioch High School students Wednesday in a tragic shooting. We are thinking of everyone affected by this shocking and unimaginable loss. Antioch High will be closed Thursday and Friday, January 23-24, to give students and staff

The PENCIL team was devastated by today's tragic events. PENCIL has had the great privilege of serving Antioch High School through our work. We stand with their students, educators and families, and the wider Antioch community.

Last week, the PENCIL Partnership Team joined Jennifer Berry and Heather Ihde from the MNPS STEAM Team in attending the @conservancynash Gratitude Gathering at the Nashville Parthenon. We are so grateful to the CPC for their partnership and impact in Nashville!

The PENCIL team joined over 140 volunteers yesterday at Thomas Edison Elementary, to participate in their Gift of Reading event. Members of our team held one-on-one reading sessions with some of Nashville's young learners. What a wonderful way to round out 2024!

Brick Church Middle School invited PENCIL and other partners to the grand unveiling of their new incentive store for students! This resource allows students to receive rewards for attainment, attendance and good behavior.

The PENCIL team recently had the honor of hosting the Diverse Learners Cooperative for their annual Fellows Summit! The PENCIL team provided insight on a panel discussion on effective community partner relationships and provided a shopping experience for participants.

As we wrap up our #10DaysofPENCIL, we celebrate the journey we’ve taken together this year. Thank you for being part of PENCIL’s story and for helping us create brighter futures for students. Here’s to continuing the work and achieving even greater milestones together next year!

It is our final day of #10DaysofPENCIL! Coming in at number 1, we are celebrating PENCIL's hands-on STEAM kits which served over 9,000 students, giving them experience in coding robots and preparing them for success in a technology-driven world.

The DG PENCIL Box had the honor of being featured as a volunteer experience during HCA Healthcare's annual holiday party for HR professionals! The HCA team created SEL flash cards and fidgets for PENCIL’s Classroom Creatives program and had lots of holiday fun in the process.

Number 2 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: This year’s Principal for a Day experience brought together over 300 community members, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a principal across 130 MNPS schools. Thank you to @Cheekwood for hosting our luncheon!

Number 3 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: We were thrilled to host a DG PENCIL Box pop-up shop at Pearl-Cohn High School, where we distributed essential classroom materials directly to teachers. It's all part of our mission to ensure educators have the resources to succeed!

PENCIL joined the @MyFutureMyWay Business Conference last week, an intensive one-day event where MNPS seniors learn about professional best practices and career pathways. PENCIL led a series of hands-on workshop sessions Thank you to @Deloitte for hosting!

We're delighted to welcome Susan Lagos as PENCIL's new Director of Finance! Susan will be responsible for all aspects of PENCIL’s finance and operational functions including accounting, human resources, and facilities. It's great to have you on the team, Susan!

Number 5 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: We were honored to welcome First Lady of Tennessee Maria Lee and the Tennessee Serves team to the DG PENCIL Box this summer. Their dedication to volunteering helps ensure teachers have the resources they need to succeed. Thank you!

Number 6 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: Our 6th annual Back to School Breakfast brought together over 560 business and community leaders to hear inspiring stories from partners, teachers, and students about the transformative impact of PENCIL's programs.

Number 7 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: This year’s Together 4 Teachers project was a huge success, celebrating MNPS teachers with totes full of supplies and shining a spotlight on the DG PENCIL Box. Thank you for helping us support those who shape Nashville's future!

Another PENCIL Pop ⬆️ Shop in the wild! Yesterday we brought supplies to Robert Churchwell Elementary, to allow educators to pick up free classroom supplies over their lunch break!

Number 8 in our #10DaysofPENCIL countdown: This April, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of A Little Night of Music at the iconic @opry. Thanks to your support, this unforgettable night raised over $400,000 in critical funds to empower Metro students and educators.