Pets in the Classroom Program Awarded $1,000 Grant by Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation

BEL AIR, MD, June 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Pet Care Trust's Pets in the Classroom program was selected by the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to receive a grant of $1,000 for the Pets in the Classroom Program. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation makes grants to qualified non-profit organizations in support of children's health and wellness, animals and the environment, and literacy and education.

Pet Care Trust Executive Director Steven King expressed appreciation for the funding from Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, "We are honored to have our program recognized as a deserving non-profit by the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation. We feel that the Pets in the Classroom program supports all of the Foundation's goals related to children's well-being, animals and education. Support from organizations like the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation will allow us to move toward our goal of helping one million children experience the educational and psychological benefits of pet care through a classroom pet."

The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is committed to improving communities and impacting lives through unique philanthropic programs that help children and families, animals, and the environment.

The Pets in the Classroom program was established by the Pet Care Trust in 2009 to assist teachers in obtaining or maintaining classroom pets. In 2010, 2,066 grants were awarded to teachers. The ultimate goal of the program is to reach 30,000 classrooms and impact one million children. The Pets in the Classroom program benefits students by teaching them responsible, long-term pet care at an early age and providing the psychological and developmental benefits associated with the human-animal bond. Studies have shown that caring for pets has a positive effect on children, improving school attendance and teaching children responsibility, as well as encouraging nurturing and building self esteem.

The Pet Care Trust recognizes that teachers often have limited resources to enhance their classrooms and curriculum. Through a simple, online application process at http://www.petsintheclassroom.org, teachers can become eligible to receive grants of $50 to support existing classroom pets, or $100-$150 to purchase or adopt a new pet and required equipment.