Supporting Students and Educators in Building the Future
On November 7, the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County launched its $15 million capital campaign, “Brick by Brick, Mind by Mind,” to fund the construction of a new 32,000 sq. ft. facility in Lake Worth Beach. The building will house Red Apple Supplies, the Education Foundation’s free school supply store for Palm Beach County teachers, as well as a warehouse, meeting space and offices. Before the evening ended, the Foundation announced that it had already received pledges for more than $10 million for the project.
The event was held at Red Apple’s current location, adjacent to Riviera Beach Preparatory and Achievement Center in Riviera Beach. Pam Rauch, Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development for Florida Power and Light Company, also made a public announcement of their commitment of $1 million to support the project. “Supporting and investing in programs that benefit our local students and teachers is one of the ways in which Florida Power and Light contributes to the sustainability of communities where our employees work and live.” Rauch stated, “This capital campaign partnership we’re announcing today is yet one more example of our commitment to developing the next generation of engineers, scientists, and other STEM-related industry professionals.”
The School District of Palm Beach County is proud to continue its partnership with the Education Foundation said Ed Tierney, Deputy Superintendent, by providing a $1 per year lease of the land. Meredith Trim, Red Apple Supplies Founder and President of Ventus Charitable Foundation, said “I never imagined how much we need this new facility because of the incredible growth and success of Red Apple Supplies, only six years after its founding.” She also announced Ventus Charitable Foundation’s leading donor pledge of $6 million. Red Apple Supplies has grown from distributing $60,000 worth of supplies to 9 Title I schools in 2016, to last year distributing $1.4 million in essential tools for learning, including pencils, backpacks, crayons, and much more with plans to serve 91 schools before the end of the school year.
The Education Foundation serves as a nexus between the county’s public schools, the private sector, and the community. The new building will leverage a greater number of resources to benefit the programs and services supporting the students and teachers in The School District of Palm Beach County. The evening ended with a reveal of the 3-D model of the new facility, designed by Song + Associates, Inc.
