Good Works Makeover: Academic Excellence

In the sitting area, Elaine painted the wall Sassy Green from Valspar American Tradition. Classic Sofa's Griffin sofa in yellow and armchairs, covered in Beacon Hill velvet, and Knoll's steel chairs, designed by Harry Bertoia, gather round a Lagfors table from Ikea. Two lamps from Hwang Bishop sit on side tables from Storehouse.

The nine young teachers who spend their free time in the Cornelia Connelly Center's big shared living room have given the space a new name: Club 220, a reference to the building's address on Fourth Street in New York's East Village. The group of twentysomethings, most of them fresh out of college, can't stop talking about the room's club-cool vibe!

To make their job a little bit easier and to "show them a lot of love," Elaine adds, she rustled up a few extra donations. BJ's Wholesale Club, where the teachers buy their food, wrote out a $7,500 gift certificate. The local Dolphin Fitness Club threw in yearlong memberships. Scholastic came forward with $10,000 in books: some for the Connelly Center's library, others for the students to take home, and still others for the teachers' use. 

More Good Works Makeovers
From lackluster to lush: St. Helena's foster care home for girls 
Shine a light on Project Sunshine, a volunteer-driven program for kids with medical problems
A New York charity serving cancer patients and their families