Chicago's home-grown coupon site is offering shoppers a chance to give back once again this year--and in true style, they're offering the deal at a discount.
Last year, Groupon partnered with Chicago Public Schools and the Woodridge-based school supply nonprofit Kits for Kidz to "sell" donations. For $12 last year, users could buy a year's worth of school supplies for a CPS student from a low-income family.
This year, they've shaved $1 off the price, and added an upgrade option: $11 buys a student a 30-item kit that includes notebooks, pencils, rulers and scissors from name brand supply companies, according to the deal. For $18, your student will also get a new backpack to cart it all to and from class.
The deal will be available until Aug. 7, according to Groupon.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard praised the partnership, telling the Chicago Sun-Times that the district needs "everyone’s help in making sure all CPS students are prepared with the tools they need to succeed in school on day one." Last year, the partnership generated $15,000 in contributions, sending kits to 1,200 students, CPS told the newspaper.
According to CPS data cited in the Groupon deal, 87 percent of students at the district's 675 schools come from low-income families.