East Valley students design projects for Think It Up initiative

Celebrities will join forces for a Think It Up telecast Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS and ABC to bring urgency to improving learning across America. The new initiative invites public middle and high school students to collaborate with their teachers to develop projects that will draw on their passions and help them pursue their goals.

Some sixth graders at Palm View School in Coachella said their dreams matter and the Entertainment Industry Foundation wants to help make them come true.

“I want to be an anesthesiologist when I grow up,” said Amy Felix.

“What I want to me when I grow up is a soccer player,” said Luis Castaneda.

From new books, to field trips, art supplies, science equipment or never before funded projects, students think it up and donors choose.

“I love that it’s modernizing , they’re 21st century kids, they deserve a 21st century education,” said sixth grade teacher Leah Benavente.”My kids are really excited, they even thought of projects to post. As a class, pick a project and post it on Thinkitup.org and hopefully get some donors.”

Amy said she’d like her class to visit a local hospital. Luis said he’d want to go to a professional soccer game and meet the players.

“I think it’d be important to just meet one of my idols,” he said.

The initiative aims to build cultural excitement about education and funding to support it.

“I think it’s pretty good they’re trying to fund for kids who want to go somewhere or do something with their class.”

“It matters because little kids are people too, they deserve to have an education and to have a career and be one like you.”

The Think it Up telecast will feature many celebrity appearances and performances.
For more information, visit thinkitup.org