Philly Service Award Reveals the 2025 Great Teacher Holiday Gift List

PSA Shares What Educators Really Want and Need This Holiday Season

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES, December 1, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As the holiday season approaches, families across Philadelphia are looking for meaningful ways to show appreciation to the educators who support, inspire, and empower students every day. The Philly Service Award is highlighting the gifts teachers truly value—items they consistently use in their classrooms and in their personal growth.

Teachers nationwide spend nearly $895 of their own money annually according to AdoptaClassroom.org on classroom supplies. Through the Philly Service Award’s innovative $1,000 classroom wish fulfillment program, faculty members have been able to purchase essential and inspiring tools that enrich learning while reducing out-of-pocket costs.

Top 10 Teacher Holiday Wish List Items
To help give teachers the gifts they need to succeed, Philly Service Award is sharing the top items teachers have selected using their PSA wish list funds:

1. Bluetooth Speakers, Earbuds/Headphones, or Portable Power Bank Chargers
2. Cricut Machines or Cricut Accessories
3. Mini Desktop Fridge
4. Monthly Planner or Classroom Calendar
5. Most Often Asked for Games & Activity Tools:
Tangrams 330 Puzzles
Math Game Tower
Connect Four
Jenga
Chat Chains
Name 5
Tic Tac Toe
6. Interactive Books & Creative Activities:
Life or Death: Interactive Survival Adventure Book
Anxiety Relief, Positive Thinking, Motivational Coloring Books
“How to Paint with Acrylics” instructional book
7. Pencil/Pen Cases Filled with High-Quality Writing Tools
8. Selected Books for Teens & Young Adults:
Black Girls Must Be Magic
All That It Ever Meant
We Are All So Good at Smiling
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Within These Wicked Walls
We Were Never Here
Tokyo Ever After
9. Desk Lamps and Floor Lamps
10. Organizational Shelves, Bins, and Storage Solutions

“These are not just gifts—they’re tools teachers use every day to support students academically, emotionally, and creatively,” said Founder Shelly Fisher. “Thoughtful items like these not only make a teacher’s day brighter, but they enhance the entire classroom experience.”

A First-of-Its-Kind Program Supporting Every Philadelphia High School

The Philly Service Award is the only initiative ensuring every high school in Philadelphia receives a $1,000 grant to support student-led community service projects that improve their neighborhoods. Faculty guide these projects, helping students build leadership, empathy, and real-world problem-solving skills. Their wish list fulfillment program serves as recognition of the faculty’s continued commitment.

At year’s end, schools put their efforts on display as they compete for the Philly Service Award Impact Awards, with total prize dollars reaching $145,000. This competition recognizes creativity, impact, and student empowerment.

Holiday Giving That Makes a Real Difference

As families shop for holiday gifts, the Philly Service Award encourages choosing items that bring joy, reduce teachers’ personal expenses, and support vibrant, creative classrooms.

“To honor teachers this season, give gifts that reflect their dedication and help them continue doing what they do best,” said Executive Director Jen Jones. “A thoughtful, practical gift can have a lasting impact.”

For more information about the Philly Service Award or questions about school-led civic engagement, please contact Jen Jones – Jen@phillyserviceaward.com.

Shelly Fisher
The Philly Service Award
+1 610-745-9429
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