Barclays Brings Teacher Wishlists to Life and Surprises Nativity with $40,000 Gift

The opening weeks of the school year brought an exciting surprise to Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington as volunteers from Barclays US Consumer Bank arrived on September 29 with teacher-selected classroom resources and an unexpected announcement: a $40,000 contribution to our school!

The visit was the culmination of a classroom sponsorship initiative that began with a simple idea: ask our teachers what they need. Rather than providing predetermined supplies, Barclays invited Nativity to create wishlists based on their classrooms, subject areas, and students. The lists included books, specialized supplies, learning tools, instructional materials, and other resources selected specifically to support teaching and learning across our classrooms and learning spaces.

"One of the most meaningful things you can do for an educator is ask, 'What do you need to help your students thrive?' and then give them the opportunity to answer that question," said Dr. Altina Herbert, Principal of Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington. "This partnership with Barclays does exactly that. Our teachers know their students, they know their classrooms, and they know the resources that can transform a lesson or create a new opportunity for a young person. We are incredibly grateful that Barclays is investing not only in materials, but in our teachers' ability to make those decisions for their students."

Led by Carrie Edwards, Vice President, Marketing Program Office at Barclays US Consumer Bank, Barclays colleagues came together on September 18th to select and purchase the requested resources. Then, on September 29th, volunteers brought those items directly to Nativity. The excitement of seeing our teachers receive resources chosen specifically for their classrooms made for a memorable morning. That excitement grew even more when the Barclays team surprised our school community with the announcement of an additional $40,000 contribution to Nativity Prep.

The timing was especially meaningful. Our teachers returned to campus on August 25th, and our students began classes on September 8th. Having Barclays colleagues walk through our doors during the opening weeks of the school year gave our boys an opportunity to see that members of the broader community are invested in their education and future.

"For our students, seeing members of the community walk through our doors and invest their time, resources, and presence sends an important message," Herbert added. "It tells our boys that people beyond the walls of their school believe in their potential and want to be part of their success. That is the kind of partnership that has an impact far beyond a box of classroom supplies."

We are deeply grateful to Carrie, the Barclays volunteers, and the entire Barclays US Consumer Bank team for listening to our teachers, showing up for our students, and investing so generously in Nativity Prep. Their support provided an unforgettable start to the school year and another reminder to our boys that there is a community of people cheering them on.