Shelby County government presents $750K check to SCS for student headset fundraiser

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Thanks to Shelby County government, Shelby County Schools met its $1 million goal Monday to buy headsets for all 95,000 students in the district.

Last month, WMC Action News 5 helped raise more than $322,000 for the SCS Headsets for Learning fundraiser through SchoolSeed Foundation.

On Monday, Mayor Lee Harris, Commission Chairman Eddie Jones and Commissioner Tami Sawyer presented a $750,000 check to SCS Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray and members of the SCS Board of Education.

SCS began the 2020-21 school year virtually and set out to raise a million dollars to provide every student with a headset to accompany their district-issued digital device.

Ray said the county directed CARES Act funding to pay for the digital devices, but the district needed the community’s support to be able to provide students with headsets.

The presentation included a second surprise donation from Billy Richmond with the Wing Guru. Richmond, a Hamilton High School graduate, said he was moved to support the SCS Board’s fundraiser to provide utility assistance for SCS families.

Richmond donated $10,000 to the fundraiser.

Families in need can apply for assistance through SchoolSeed Foundation here.

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