HERMISTON – Rocky Heights Elementary School teacher Brian Zimmerman netted more than $1,500 in donations from U.S. Cellular’s “Calling All Teachers” campaign earlier this month.

The first-grade teacher posted three requests through www.donorschoose.org, a philanthropic Web site designed to help public school teachers find support. U.S. Cellular had encouraged teachers to post their requests on the site starting in mid-April.

Zimmerman received full funding for all three of his requests: books, furniture for a reading area and electronic educational games. He got word from Hermiston U.S. Cellular store manager Chris Carter, who then threw a classroom party on behalf of the company.

This was the “Calling All Teachers” program’s second year, for which U.S. Cellular put up $1 million in donations. The company also recently launched a separate “Calling All Communities” initiative.

– Eric Florip