Current Recipients
Recipients are nominated based on their teaching philosophies and the desire to make their classrooms a more enriching place to learn. These educators are exceptional in their abilities to teach creatively. Glitter, art supplies, books and games are often part of their everyday lessons. Each has been shown to teach with the same philosophy Risa lived by - Get the job done but never leave out the fun stuff.
Below are our current recipients. Each one has a direct link to an Amazon gift registry. Choose items to purchase and we will do the rest. It is as simple as that. Don't want to go shopping? Monetary donations can be made directly by clicking the button below.
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PLEASE NOTE: When making a purchase from the Amazon gift registry please check the box that says "Share your default shipping address with the recipients."This will enable us to send you a receipt for tax purposes.
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We have been fortunate enough to have filled our current recipients' wish list for our Fall Drive. We are still taking monetary donations so that we can help even more teachers. Donations have direct impact.
Past Recipients
Please meet some of our past Risa's Corner recipients. Each of these amazing educators was nominated and chosen to be the recipient of our yearly drive. They exemplify excellence in teaching as each has created a special learning environment. These teachers are some of the most dedicated and creative in their field.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to fulfill their entire wishlists.
Katie Yeager
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Risa’s Corner is an incredible organization with a deep and meaningful impact with teachers, students and community. Risa’s Corner has helped to create my classroom into a “home away from home” for my students, and create a fun environment for learning. To this day, students still talk about the day that the Risa’s Corner donations and supplies were dropped off as one of their favorite memories from kindergarten! Personally, Risa’s Corner has impacted me tremendously. The hope and legacy that Risa has left is a continuous reminder that my role as a teacher goes far beyond I could ever imagine. I am forever grateful to Risa’s Corner and their incredible generosity!
Olivia Lewis
What does Risa’s Corner mean to me? It means community and love. It has touched many educators and lives, including myself. As the 2021-2022 recipient of Risa’s Corner, I can truly express how honored I am to be one of the recipients. The support from Risa’s community is tremendous. When I found out that I was going to be the recipient, I did not even know how to respond. My heart was so warm, and my smile was huge. I have never felt more honored or supported. During this time, I was a brand-new teacher, right out of college… with dreams bigger than I imagined. I knew this organization was going to touch my heart and fill my dreams. Still to this day, my teacher’s dreams are growing bigger and bigger. With all the resources I had donated to my classroom, I can make those dreams come true. The items donated by wonderful, heartfelt donors continue to support my students' academic, mental, and social achievements. I am still able to push my students to be the best they can be in every aspect of their day even connecting their social emotional well-being. From my Risa’s Corner to yours, you are a great educator, do not give up. You are loved, appreciated, and supported. Make the difference Risa would. I know she would be proud.
Laura Zimmerman
​​This is my 34th year of teaching in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County. I gave up my gig as a reading specialist/coach to go back into the classroom last year. It was the absolute BEST decision. I love working with students and watching them grow as readers. It is a magical moment to watch a student "get it." Having the new supplies that Risa's Corner donated to me gives my students the feeling that they are in a home away from home. I have been able to include flexible seating and added books to my library that are based on THEIR interest. My kids are more organized which means less instructional time lost with their bookmarks, book magnets, and clips. I also have my beautiful sign hanging in my library to remind myself and the students of the beautiful soul that is at the heart of this amazing organization.
Stacey Cosden
Stacey has been with Baltimore County Public Schools since 1997. Her school thought so highly of her they asked her to go from Para-Educator to teacher during the teaching shortage. She was our recipient in 2022 as she was unexpectedly building a classroom community while finishing her certification. She advocates for children and others in marginalized communities and works with a local theater company doing children's productions. The donations from Risa's Corner allowed Stacey to bring her outside creativity into her classroom community.
Laurie Shapiro
I was honored to be the first Risa's Corner recipient and her beautiful spirit fills my classroom. Dragonflies hang from the ceiling with prisms that catch the light and shine rainbows all around, as she would if she could be here! As I packed my Risa’s corner sign and so many amazing books and items that were the OG Risa's Corner generous donations, I felt her dragonfly wings spreading love to children everywhere as they begin a new school year. Her legacy lives on in so many classrooms. Please consider a contribution to this wonderful cause in her honor and memory!
Alisa Cohen
When chosen as a recipient of Risa’s Corner, I was humbled and touched knowing the impact Risa has had on so many people. I did not yet understand the level of generosity that donors exhibit to help teachers they don’t know as a way to honor Risa’s memory. My students were blessed to receive so many supplies: multi-genre and multi-leveled books, seat pouches, exercise ball chairs, fidgets for my SEL corner, puppets, glue, paint, etc. My classroom was filled with educational materials and tools to enhance learning in my first grade classroom. I never met Risa, but I can feel her presence through all the love people have shown in honoring her memory.
