Virginia W. Kettering Foundation Supports Crayons to Classrooms’ Program Expansion

With over 55,000 local students at Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) eligible schools, support from organizations like the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation make a huge impact. The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation has generously awarded the Teacher Resource Center a grant to support program expansion.

Among the students served through C2C, 96.5% come from low-income households where many families struggle to afford daily needs. School supplies are simply not in the budget. The Teacher Resource Center works year-round partnering with organizations and donors to stock the shelves with essential academic materials.

When students enter the classroom empty-handed, teachers reach into their own pockets to purchase the necessary supplies. C2C’s mission is rooted in relieving the financial burden that families and teachers feel so their students can thrive in the classroom and beyond. Over 200 new teachers joined C2C’s program this school year and have the opportunity to shop twice a year for free school supplies. Teachers share that C2C’s program significantly contributes to class preparedness, participation, and a more equitable learning environment for all students. Funding from the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation gives C2C more resources to keep the resource center stocked to serve more teachers than ever before.

The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation prioritizes initiatives supporting education, humanities, environment, health, human services, and public benefit. For years, they have provided funding to support Crayons to Classrooms’ mission of securing and distributing school supplies at no cost to teachers of students in need.