Elementary Teacher Raises Money so Class can Get Laptops

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- An elementary teacher in Little Rock was so determined to make sure his students each have a laptop computer that he was willing to spend the cash himself.
   
But thanks to some internet surfing, he got what he wanted for free.

Sometimes it pays to see what's trending.

Mr. Damon Baughn loves teaching 4th grade at McDermott Elementary in Little Rock.

"I've always had this dream of having my kids with their own computers," he says.

Baughn was willing to come up with the cash himself, but instead, while surfing the net, he found the website DonorsChoose.org.

"Basically, you put in a project," Baughn explains. "So I typed in my project, what I wanted to accomplish with it and you put it onto their website and you have people donate to it."

At first only mom was logging on to give to the cause, but then friends caught on.

"All of a sudden they put it on their Facebook and it was right around Christmas time, and they were saying, 'Don't get me any Christmas presents, just donate to Mr. Baughn's project,'" he recalls.
 
Before he knew it, $3,000 had been donated, and the laptops were on the way; much to the excitement of his students.

"I really was, he was trying to make it a surprise," says Baughn's student Madison Molden.

Thanks to DonorsChoose.org and a few friends, now she and the rest of Baughn's students can surf, study, and see what's trending.