Clairton, South Allegheny, West Mifflin and Woodland Hills School Districts will each receive a $3,600 donation from a partnership between U.S. Steel and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The donations will go toward funding technology needs for remote learning in each of the Mon Valley districts.

“Of the many challenges brought on by the covid-19 pandemic, we believe education should not be one of them,” Richard Fruehauf, senior vice president, strategic planning and chief strategy and development officer at U.S. Steel, said in a statement.

Amanda Malkowski, a U.S. Steel spokeswoman, said each donation has been left open-ended, so the districts can spend the money wherever it is most needed — be it on devices, mobile hotspots or other technology needs.

“There’s a lot of need there, and we’re happy that we could do what we could,” Malkowski said. “It’s a tough time.”

At Woodland Hills School District, Superintendent James Harris said the money from the donation will help the district get closer to achieving a 1:1 technology ratio, ensuring that all 3,500 students have a Chromebook.

The district has been working toward the goal since schools were closed — Woodland Hills High School Principal Philip Woods started a massive fundraising effort in late March, and later started a formal foundation.

“When the whole pandemic shut us down,” Harris said, “we were at a loss of how we were going to be able to reach our students.”

Since then, the district has purchased around 1,500 laptops. Harris said they’re now “loading up” to have extras in case of damage or fluctuating enrollment.

Harris said the donation from U.S. Steel and the Steelers is encouraging to the district as they try to cater to all students.

“The money is fantastic, but just knowing they’re willing to donate anything to Woodland Hills is a ‘thumbs up’ to what we are trying to accomplish,” Harris said. “It means that they believe in what we are doing, and that meant more than all of the money we have collected with this fundraiser from the foundation.”

Woodland Hills will resume instruction 100% online for most students Aug. 24, offering some in-person instruction for students with specific learning needs, Harris said.

The donations are not the first collaboration between the two Pittsburgh organizations to assist the Mon Valley. The Steelers and U.S. Steel launched the Steelers STEM program last year, with a curriculum that emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math. In its first year, 3,380 students participated across 26 schools in the area. Many took advantage of remote learning provided by the program, which will continue in the upcoming school year.

“The Steelers STEM platform, presented by U.S. Steel, has given us the opportunity to connect with students in our communities in a meaningful way. Hopefully, it will have a long-lasting positive impact on the students and on Western Pennsylvania,” said Ryan Huziak, vice president of sales & marketing at the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a statement. “We’re proud we are able to leverage our partnership with U.S. Steel to provide key resources to these schools as an extension of our program.”

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