Supporting Teachers. Supporting Students. Supporting Families.
Lynchburg Imagination Library
The Lynchburg Imagination Library gifts high quality, age-appropriate books every month to children from birth until the child turns five. There is no cost to families and books are available in English or in bilingual English/Spanish. All children under five in the Greater Lynchburg area and other communities with existing programs can be signed up today and will begin receiving books usually within six to eight weeks. Register today.
How Does it Happen?
The Lynchburg Imagination Library, a partnership between the Education Foundation and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, provides books at no cost to children under five in our community. This program, funded by donors and supported largely by volunteers, has delivered over 28,200 books to children in our immediate area. When caregivers read to young children, familial bonds are strengthened and the development of early literacy skills are a likely outcome. You can promote early literacy for a more sustainable community by giving to the Lynchburg Imagination Library here.
Tools4Schools
Excellence, equity, advocacy and educational funding are our mantra and this also holds true at our Tools4Schools Warehouse. Students with verified financial need receive school supplies and backpacks from their school guidance counselors. We also work to mitigate the out-of-pocket expenses teachers spend on classroom and student resources. Teachers shop for no cost educational materials and classroom rewards and incentives at our Tools4Schools Warehouse through both onsite and online shopping.
Thanks to the generous support of grants and financial donations along with the help of school supply drives, extremely dedicated volunteers, and partner organizations, we fill about 800 teacher orders, provide over 1,300 students with school supply kits, and outfit about 900 students with backpacks every year!
We welcome both financial and material donations, including school supplies, office supplies, and art supplies. Please contact our coordinator at (434) 515-5081 or bakerta1@lcsedu.net to schedule a drop off. You can donate to Tools4Schools by clicking the GIVE button.
Classroom Innovation Grants
Classroom Innovation Grants support a culture of innovation and provide teachers with the opportunity to request funding to implement exciting and effective projects and programs designed to meet student needs and increase motivation to learn. Each year the LCS Education Foundation awards over $60,000 in grants and as of June 2024, the Foundation has awarded over $1,267,448 in Classroom Innovation Grant funding since its inception. Last year’s grants enabled students to create a virtual reality playground experience for students with mobility issues, to create, produce, and stream their original music, get hands-on experience with science and environmental issues through outdoor experiences in the community as well as through gardening projects on school grounds, and provided at unique experience with contemporary literature through the study of the books award winning author Jesmyn Ward.
You can read more about how Classroom Innovation Grants have made a positive impact here.
Breakfast with the Superintendent
The Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, Inc. hosts an annual Breakfast with the Superintendent each spring. Proceeds from the Breakfast are used by the Foundation to fund ongoing programs and projects such as Classroom Innovation Grants, the Tools4Schools Warehouse, an annual Senior Honors Reception, and student scholarships.
Those interested in attending or becoming a sponsor can sign up for email updates to receive alerts about the next Breakfast with the Superintendent.
Sponsored Scholarships and Senior Honors Dinner
Each year we partner with Lynchburg City Schools to honor the top 15 seniors from both E. C. Glass and Heritage high schools for their superior academic accomplishments. Additionally we award a wide array of sponsored scholarships to recognize academic excellence and provide financial support for students who will be continuing their education after high school. Scholarships are awards to students interested in science, CTE programs, medicine, nursing or dentistry, community service, leadership, and who have demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity.
Businesses and civic groups are invited to sponsor scholarships and can identify their preferred eligibility requirements for qualification. For more information on scholarship sponsorship, please contact LCS Education Foundation, Inc. at (434) 515-5081 or wisedf@lcsedu.net.
General Fund
The General Fund helps fill gaps in school budgets, providing essential resources where they are needed most. This could include:
Classroom supplies: Ensuring teachers have the materials they need to create an engaging learning environment.
Technology upgrades: Providing access to updated computers and software for students and teachers.
Teacher professional development: Supporting ongoing professional growth opportunities for educators.
Arts integration: Bringing music, visual arts, and theatre into the curriculum.
STEM initiatives: Providing access to cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Literacy programs: Supporting initiatives that foster a love of reading and improve reading comprehension and early literacy.
By investing in the Education Foundation General Fund, you are directly supporting initiatives that help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and beyond.