The excitement buzzed through the halls of Ponderosa Elementary School on Thursday as the students and staff eagerly awaited the grand reveal of their revamped library. Thanks to the College Football Playoff Foundation, this crucial central space received a much-needed makeover.
Houston is currently in the spotlight, gearing up for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, a massive event that not only brings business to the city but also extends a helping hand to local schools. The College Football Playoff Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting education, teachers, and students, identified six Houston-area schools for a special makeover. Ponderosa Elementary was fortunate to be among the chosen few.
Ponderosa Elementary, with a campus facility over half a century old, has witnessed generations of students pass through its doors. The $50,000 grant from the College Football Playoff Foundation breathed new life into one of the school’s most utilized spaces—the library.
“This was a day full of joy,” said Britton Banowsky, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff. “We were able to come here to Ponderosa Elementary and totally made over their library -- completely fresh, new furniture, a maker space, a wonderful learning environment here now. And then we invited the students, on their first day back, to come experience it and the expressions on their faces said it all.”
But the Ponderosa makeover is not just a standalone project. It’s part of a larger citywide campus beautification initiative that includes 11 murals, with eight already unveiled, and a total of six school makeovers. Most of these transformations are centered around libraries, aligning with the foundation’s Houston Loves Teachers campaign.
The Houston Loves Teachers campaign goes beyond physical enhancements, aiming to revolutionize the educational landscape. This multifaceted effort includes a recruitment and retention campaign to bring more qualified, dedicated, and passionate teachers into Houston’s classrooms. Funded through at least the 2025 school year, the program is set to endure beyond the football championship, with Good Reason Houston taking the reins.
To date, over $3 million has been fundraised to support this program, and the events surrounding the championship weekend are expected to contribute even more to this cause.