The Journalism Education Association today pledged $2,500 toward the “Tinker Tour,” a planned bus tour during the 2013-14 academic year that will take free speech champion and former Supreme Court plaintiff Mary Beth Tinker and Student Press Law Center attorney Mike Hiestand around the country to talk about the Tinker case and the state of the First Amendment in America’s schools.

Earlier this year, JEA’s board of directors unanimously voted to endorse the tour. To date, 26 journalism, legal and education organizations around the country have voiced their support for the initiative.

The Tinker Tour still needs funding support to reach its goal. Donations are being accepted online at http://startsomegood.com/tinkertour.