During our last fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024), the Education Foundation completed a record year. I’d like to recognize Brandon Nobile, our Immediate Past Chair, for his outstanding leadership during this period.

The Foundation impacted 30,000 students and over 1000 teachers with our program funding. We raised a record $1.2 million to support 24 programs. We funded programs to reduce student absenteeism, provide classroom grants for teachers, help improve early literacy & provide internet access to families, to name a few.

The 2023 annual dinner raised a record amount for grants and scholarships. We also funded Night of the Stars, recognizing excellence among the district staff. We held the annual the Hall of Champions luncheon recognizing community leaders and distinguished alumni of St. Lucie Public Schools. Our scholarship program awarded 55 individual scholarships.

My thanks to the school board, district staff, foundation board and the staff of the foundation for an outstanding year of impact.

As we end the first 6 months of our 2024-2025 fiscal year, we are continuing our relevancy to the school district. We have applied for several grants that can elevate our impact significantly. We also just completed another record Annual Dinner Gala, and our Teacher Grant program awarded a record $226,000 to the school district & teachers.

You are all truly Champions for Children.

-Anthony Bonna, Board Chair

The 2024-2025 school year is now almost half over. We started the year by sponsoring the Summer Summit, a professional development program for returning teachers. Also, last summer 10 corporate partners joined the foundation in sponsoring the New Teacher Symposium, welcoming 250 new teachers to the school district.

We continue to hold sign up events for the free or reduced cost internet access program. This is a joint effort with the School District, Comcast & St. Lucie County to bridge the digital divide.

We received a generous $60,000 grant for HCA Healthcare to support the district nursing program with a focus on underserved students and a $10,000 grant for AKEL Homes to fund the Artificial Intelligence programming after school class. This program will work with the City of Port St. Lucie to improve our traffic lights to ease traffic congestion.

Fund raising through our Adopt -a-Class program is ongoing right now helping hundreds of teachers raise money for their classroom. Visit our www. efslc.org, find your favorite teacher, and donate now to support a classroom.

In partnership with the school district, we raised over $100,000 to qualify for the entire allocation offered by the State Matching Grant Program. We now have over $226,000 for this year’s Matching Grant Program, a record in our 34 years!

We held our annual dinner gala on Saturday November 2, 2024, raising over $100,000!

Finally, my thanks to our many corporate sponsors. Connecting community to the classroom to fund innovations in learning is our mission!

-Thom Jones, President

The Education Foundation has adopted an island on the Indian River Lagoon to connect students to the lagoon. We will create an outdoor science classroom and an interpretive trail on the island. Watch for updates on this project, coming soon.

Does your business or organization offer its own scholarship? 
Let the St. Lucie Education Foundation help! We can promote your scholarship, provide access to our online application system, and include it in our annual scholarship awards ceremony. 

Contact us at info@educationfoundationstlucie.org or visit educationfoundationstlucie.org to learn more!

St. Lucie County Education Foundation Board member and 2024 Teacher of the Year, Anna Babcock, is lending her expertise and passion for education to the Foundation’s new initiative, Teachers First, and its grant program, Working Together for Success. This innovative program is dedicated to enhancing public education by funding creative and impactful programs that fall outside the scope of the school budget. Through this initiative, the Foundation supports grants for teachers, schools, and district departments, focusing on critical areas like Literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), CTE (Career & Technical Education), and initiatives to assist low-performing students. Additionally, the program fosters teacher professional development, ensuring educators have the tools and resources to inspire success in the classroom. Anna’s involvement underscores the Foundation’s commitment to empowering educators and driving student achievement in St. Lucie County.

To visit this new hub where all things for teachers can be found in one place, click here: Teachers First.

New Worlds Reading
As a Regional Partner of Florida's New Worlds Reading Initiative, we're bringing free books to
eligible VPK-5th grade students' doorsteps each month. These personalized selections match
each child's interests and include family activities to build literacy skills together. Through our
partnership with UF Lastinger Center for Learning, we're hosting 8 literacy events this year to
connect more families with this valuable resource.

Teacher Grants
We're investing in innovative learning! This year, we awarded $226,000 through 36 mini-grants
and 16 matching grants, empowering teachers across our district to bring creative learning
projects to life. These grants fund essential classroom resources, cutting-edge technology, and
hands-on learning experiences that would otherwise go unfunded. From STEM projects and
literacy initiatives to professional learning and special education tools, these grants help teachers
create engaging learning environments that inspire student success.

Accepting donations now for the 2025-2026 school year – we may be able to match your donation

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation is excited to announce two incredible upcoming events! First, join us for the prestigious Hall of Champions ceremony, on March 26, 2025, where we will celebrate the outstanding achievements of local educators, students, and community partners dedicated to advancing education. Watch for more information coming soon.

Then, gear up for some colorful fun at our Fun Run on April 26, 2025! This family-friendly event will have participants running through vibrant color stations while supporting a great cause. Both events are designed to inspire, engage, and give back to our educational community. Stay tuned for more details and ways to get involved!

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