A GIFT FOR TEACHING INC

.A PENCIL, A CRAYON, OR EVEN A SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER CAN SPARK IMAGINATION, IGNITE CURIOSITY, AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING. BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THESE BASIC TOOLS REMAIN OUT OF REACH DUE TO FINANCIAL BARRIERS.MORE THAN 70% OF PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA COME FROM FAMILIES WHO CANNOT AFFORD LUNCH, LET ALONE SCHOOL SUPPLIES. AS A RESULT, EDUCATORS OFTEN STEP IN, SPENDING UP TO $1,000 OF THEIR OWN MONEY EACH YEAR TO ENSURE THEIR STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.MOVED BY THIS REALITY, PHILANTHROPIST AND NONPROFIT LEADER GARY LANDWIRTH FOUNDED A GIFT FOR TEACHING (AGFT) IN 1998 TO BRIDGE THIS GAP. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE YET POWERFUL: TO PROVIDE FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER TEACHERS AND INSPIRE FUTURE LEADERS.AGFT FOCUSES ON SOLVING THREE CRITICAL CHALLENGES:1. THE LACK OF ESSENTIAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS;2. DECLINING FUNDING FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALS;3. THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF SURPLUS SUPPLIES FROM BUSINESSES THAT CAN BE REPURPOSED FOR LEARNING.TODAY, AGFT IS PROUD TO BE CENTRAL FLORIDA'S PRIMARY PROVIDER OF FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES YEAR-ROUND, DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN $82,000 WORTH OF MATERIALS EVERY SCHOOL DAY TO TEACHERS SERVING THE KIDS WHO NEED IT MOST.BY THE NUMBERS: 20242025 PROGRAM IMPACT 20,219 TEACHER SHOPPING VISITS AT OUR FREE TEACHER SUPPLY STORES $11.8 MILLION WORTH OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES DISTRIBUTED $2.3 MILLION IN BULK DELIVERIES MADE DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS 500 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN TUITION-FREE MUSIC EDUCATION 20.8 MILLION POUNDS OF GOODS DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS SINCE INCEPTIONTHROUGH STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND A COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OVERHEAD UNDER 5%, AGFT HAS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $187 MILLION IN SCHOOL SUPPLIES OVER 27 YEARS AND HOSTED MORE THAN 415,000 TEACHER SHOPPING TRIPS. WE OPERATE BOTH PHYSICAL STORES AND MOBILE/CURBSIDE OPTIONS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS IN ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES.OUR WORK IS DRIVEN BY COMPASSION, COLLABORATION, AND A BELIEF THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WITH DIGNITY. TOGETHER WITH OUR GENEROUS DONORS, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE HELPING TEACHERS CREATE CLASSROOMS WHERE LEARNING CAN TRULY TAKE OFFONE SUPPLY AT A TIME.