This Holiday Season, Kia Motors America (KMA) and DonorsChoose.org – the innovative crowdfunding charity that has brought more than $380 million to public schools since its founding by former teacher Charles Best in 2000 – will host a series of teacher appreciation events and hands-on project funding workshops to empower teachers in some of the country's highest-need schools. Building on the success of previous campaigns that have raised over $7 million and benefited more than 1.5 million students across America since 2012, The Kia "Holidays on Us" Road Tour will provide nearly $500,000 of flash funding for eligible projects in San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The Road Tour will support the DonorsChoose.org goal to have an active project in 100 percent of high-need schools in the next five years.

"Kia and our dealers are dedicated to helping DonorsChoose.org meet its five-year goal and continue making a positive and lasting difference for students and teachers in need," said Tim Chaney, vice president, marketing communications, KMA. "We encourage people to visit DonorsChoose.org/Kia to learn how they can make a difference for as little as $1."

DonorsChoose.org will utilize the all-new 2016 Optima for the Road Tour. Teacher appreciation events will be held Dec. 7, 2015, in the San Diego-area at El Cajon Kia, Dec. 9, 2015, in the Phoenix-area at Mark Kia and Dec. 11, 2015, in the Tucson, Arizona-area at Royal Kia. Meanwhile, best-practices funding workshops will be held Dec. 6, 2015 in the San Diego-area at the Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego and Dec. 8, 2015 in the Phoenix-area at the Clarendon Hotel.

"Thanks to Kia for funding classrooms in need around its dealers" said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. "This latest campaign will help DonorsChoose.org demonstrate how easy it is to raise funds for classroom projects with the help of citizen philanthropists across America."

Individuals can join Kia, its dealers and DonorsChoose.org in supporting public school teachers and students by visiting www.donorschoose.org/Kia. Teachers interested in attending an event can visit www.donorschoose.org/KiaRoadTour.