StorageMart, a self-storage company with 127 locations across the United States and Canada, is expanding its Draw My Favorite Teacher contest to 18 public schools near the companys Oakland, Calif., facilities. The company previously invited 39 public schools in Brooklyn, N.Y., to participate in the contest, which encourages public-school students in grades K-5 to submit drawings of their favorite teachers with a chance to win prizes for themselves and their school.

In addition to selecting grand-prize winners in both cities, the company will recognize three runners-up in both contests.

Grand prizes include a $500 check to the winning teacher and a storage unit filled with about $3,000 worth of supplies, including physical-education equipment and materials for art and music, for the affiliated school. The student whose drawing is chosen as the grand-prize winner will win a pizza party for his or her class. The three runners-up will each receive a $100 check.

StorageMart kicked off the contest by sending selected schools an entry kit with drawing pages. The pages provide students with drawing space and a few lines for a short sentence about their favorite teacher. Schools must submit student entries by Nov. 1. The company also provided a postage-paid box for return shipping.

Company officials will narrow down the pictures to four finalists in each contest and publish them on the StorageMart Gives Facebook page. Grand-prize winners will be selected by majority vote. The top finalists in Brooklyn and Oakland will receive their areas grand prize, and the three remaining finalists in both locations will receive runners-up prizes. Voting will be open Nov. 5-18.

StorageMart will announce the winners on Nov. 19. Prizes will be awarded the week of Nov. 26.

Although the company pre-selected public schools in the communities surrounding its Brooklyn and Oakland self-storage facilities, the Draw My Favorite Teacher contest is open to all public schools in Brooklyn and Oakland. To request an entry kit, schools should contact Sarah Little, StorageMart interactive marketing director, at 573.449.0091, ext 4426.

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