Local Businessman Helps Teachers Get Creative

March 24, 2010

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Nicole Maristany

MIAMI (CBS4) - It can take more than book work to bring a lesson to life, but a tight budget can keep a teacher from being creative in the classroom.

Mike DePaz is a local business owner of a printing company. He's used to being indoors from 9 to 5, but some mornings he trades in his office space for the outdoors.

"We decided to do a butterfly garden for all the kids here so they could see all the different butterflies that come from different parts of the world and they come into their garden" said DePaz. "It's very important for local businesses to get involved and help the community."

DePaz's business sponsored the butterfly garden for the Pre-Kindergarten students at Coral Park Elementary and the teachers used it as an opportunity to teach science and ecology in their classrooms.

And the effort is appreciated by the teachers that are participating in the project.

"It's means so much to have our local businesses come out here and donate this beautiful butterfly garden to our school" said Pre-K teacher, Jocelyn Nerey.

For many teachers these hands on projects are out of reach because of budget cuts.

"To take what they've learned in the classroom every day about the butterflies and the planting and the seeds and the little dirt and make it real and make it hands on and come outside and enjoy it and watch it, this means so much to us" said Nerey.

And for DePaz and the folks at his company, they hope that they will lead the way for other businesses to give back.

"As a small business in Dade County we thrive to enlighten other people in other ways to what we do, and at the same time we give back" said DePaz.

And teachers like Nerey hope that others do the same.

"It's exciting to have them come out here and be a part of it and they can see it themselves in their faces and be involved and maybe get the word out to other local businesses."

If you're business or place of work would like to team up with a community project, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at (305) 597-4404.