Back-to-School Supply Drives Stock 'Teachers Supply Closets' Nationwide
August 18 2005 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Survey Shows Parents and Students Underestimate Amount Teachers
Spend on Supplies SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Teachers across the country are preparing
for the quickly approaching school year, along with an abundance of
related expenses for supplies and materials. Recent surveys
conducted for The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) by August Partners
show teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets on
classroom supplies each year -- an amount underestimated by parents
and students. Through the Teachers Supply Closet program and launch
of back-to-school supply drives, Macerich shopping centers
nationwide are raising awareness and involving communities in
offsetting the financial burden faced by teachers in stocking their
classrooms. Two surveys were conducted for Macerich in support of
its Teachers Supply Closet program: a segment of its annual
Shopping in America Back-to-School 2005 survey, along with a recent
survey of teachers. The results show: * Teachers report spending 35
percent more than parents on school supplies annually. (Teachers
spend $475 and parents plan to spend $310 for their average
two-child household). * Parents and students underestimate the
amount teachers spend out-of-pocket on classroom supplies this year
by about 35 percent. (Parents and students estimate that teachers
will spend $311; however, teachers report spending $475.) *
Teachers ranked the top five supplies they most often purchase for
their classrooms as: 1) student incentives, 2) art/craft supplies,
3) educational resources, 4) writing utensils and 5) paper
products. The Teachers Supply Closet back-to-school supply drives,
held in Macerich shopping centers across the country throughout
August, encourage shoppers to donate essential classroom supplies
for teachers. Patrons can access individual teacher wish lists or
generic supply lists at participating mall Guest Service Centers.
Convenient Teachers Supply Closet Gift Cards, available throughout
the year, can also be purchased and given to teachers for use in
buying their own classroom supplies and materials. The cards may be
used anywhere Visa(R) debit cards are accepted. "Our research shows
that teachers rank right behind parents as the second leading role
model for students, yet half of those polled do not think teachers
receive the recognition they deserve from the community," said
Susan Valentine, senior vice president of marketing for Macerich.
"Our Teachers Supply Closet program provides a way for everyone to
do their part in supporting the teachers who do so much for our
children." Through the survey, students ranked parents (selected by
24 percent) and teachers (20 percent) as the top role models for
students, followed by professionals/business people (14 percent).
Celebrities (12 percent), other students (8 percent), politicians
(5 percent), and professional athletes (6 percent) came in at the
bottom of the list. Twelve percent selected none of the options.
The Teachers Supply Closet program, launched in the spring during
National Teacher Appreciation week, provides a host of year-round
opportunities for communities to help teachers. In addition to the
Teachers Supply Closet Gift Cards and special Educator Discount
Cards, Macerich shopping centers will soon offer an exclusive
fundraiser to local schools and related organizations: the Friends
& Family Discount Shopping Day, December 4. Beginning in
September, K-12 and college-level public, private and charter
institutions can register to sell event tickets for their
organizations, which will benefit from 100 percent of the proceeds.
National program sponsor, U.S. Bank will contribute $1 for every
Teachers Supply Closet Gift Card sold this year to provide up to
$59,000 in gift cards for local teachers. A host of other companies
and organizations are also supporting program initiatives at local
levels nationwide. For more information on the Teachers Supply
Closet program, visit http://www.wemakegoodthingshappen.com/ . The
Shopping in America Back-to-School 2005 Survey was conducted for
Macerich among more than 4,100 shoppers in twelve regional shopping
centers geographically spread throughout the United States.
Respondents included parents of school-aged children (K through
college) and students (ages 10 to 25). Not all results are stated
in this document and some figures have been rounded to the nearest
whole number. Data is subject to a +/- 1.5 percent margin of error.
For more information on the Shopping in America surveys, visit
http://www.shoppinginamerica.biz/ . The Teachers Supply Closet
Teacher Survey was conducted for Macerich among 440 teachers within
school systems in five U.S. markets. School systems were enlisted
to distribute, collect and return the 21-question surveys from
among their teaching staff members. Results were tabulated and
yielded a margin of error rating of +/- 5 percent based upon the
total of all responses. The Macerich Company is a fully integrated
self-managed and self- administered real estate investment trust,
which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development
and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States.
The Company is the sole general partner and owns an 81% ownership
interest in The Macerich Partnership, L.P. Macerich now owns
interests in properties totaling approximately 77 million square
feet of gross leaseable area consisting primarily of interests in
76 regional malls. Additional information about The Macerich
Company can be obtained from the Company's Web site at
http://www.macerich.com/ . DATASOURCE: The Macerich Company
CONTACT: Tresa Hardt, , or Tanya Stone, both of Lovell Public
Relations, +1-972-788-4511, for The Macerich Company Web site:
http://www.macerich.com/ http://www.wemakegoodthingshappen.com/
http://www.shoppinginamerica.biz/
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