Educator Chipotle Challenge
About Kala & the ECC
Hey there! Thanks for dropping by the Educator Chipotle Challenge (ECC) website. I’m Kala Ebbe, a Minnesotan School Counselor for grades 7-9 in Davis, California. Before Davis, I was an elementary School Counselor for over 1,200 students in Blackfoot, Idaho. As a School Counselor for five years, I have supported students and families from a range of backgrounds that include high poverty, members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe on the Fort Hall Reservation, drug and substance use and abuse, and various levels of mental health challenges. No matter the background, it’s apparent that healthy relationships between students and their educators is a critical factor in students’ overall well-being and academic success. I have been privileged to work alongside extremely dedicated, com(passionate), resourceful educators who often put their students’ needs before their own. I want my fellow educators to know - and be reminded - that they are valued and supported in one of the most influential professions. I want to take peaceful action and give back to educators, which is why I’m before you today with the ECC.
In 2015, my good friend challenged me to eat Chipotle once a day, every day for one year. I ran with the challenge idea and combined two things I love - education and Chipotle - with the goal of doing something bigger than myself, and to give back to educators and support students. The purpose of the ECC is to highlight stories of how educators have positively impacted people through, at least 53, video recorded Educator Shout Out Interviews (on YouTube Channel); inspire people who support educators and students to donate money to an educational cause - my goal is to raise $100,000; to fulfill my friend’s Chipotle challenge. To kick off the fundraiser, I began eating Chipotle once a day for one year on August 29, 2018 - the first day of school; the 365th day of the ECC will be August 28, 2019 (the first day of the next school year. To chip in for education, follow the "donate" button above to the ECC Fundraiser GoFundMe. Donations will be accepted until 11:59PM on August 28, 2019.
The ECC has evolved since its original inception. I have not received and will not receive financial support or sponsorship for the ECC fundraiser; nor will I personally benefit from the money fundraised during the ECC. The bank account associated with the GoFundMe will be in my name, as I did not receive long-term partnership support from a non-profit organization.
Half of the money raised will be used to purchase supplies and materials for educators of grades 7-12 at Da Vinci Charter Academy in Davis, California. Educators will fill out a request form, and I will prioritize purchases based on the available half of the GoFundMe funds. Half of the money raised will be a one-time donation to Davis Joint Unified School District to improve access to school-based mental health services for students in Davis K-12 public schools.
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Daily photos and videos documenting my year-long journey of eating Chipotle, the Educator Shout Out Interviews, and fundraiser for the ECC will be accessible from this website. Updates will also be shared directly on the Educator Chipotle Challenge (ECC) YouTube Channel, Instagram (@educatorcc), Twitter (@educatorcc), and Facebook (educatorcc). I will invite people of various generations and occupations to share a story - through an interview - about an educator or educators who have made a difference in their life. My hope is that these stories and I will inspire people who value educators and education, and healthy development of our young people, to chip in for education. Full bellies. Educated minds. Full hearts. Full circle.
Thank you for your support!
-Kala Ebbe
Endorsed by:
