Addition Financial Foundation Transforms “Renovate to Educate” Program to Enhance Needs Spaces for Central Florida Schools

LAKE MARY, Fla. (April 2, 2025) – The Addition Financial Foundation is proud to announce its 2025 Renovate to Educate program, which will enhance the ability of four Central Florida schools to support students in need before the next school year. This year marks a meaningful change in the program's focus, as the Foundation shifts its efforts from renovating individual teacher classrooms to enhancing the overall 'needs spaces' within schools.

A "Needs Space" is a dedicated area within a school stocked with food and personal items for unhoused or low-income students and their families. By addressing the needs of common areas such as the food/clothing pantry/closet, the Addition Financial Foundation hopes to create a more inclusive and enriching environment for every student. The Foundation collaborated with local school district partners to identify schools that would benefit from the program.

The 2025 Renovate to Educate program recipients are:

• Engelwood Elementary (Orange County)

• Lakeview Elementary (Osceola County)

• Millennium Middle (Seminole County)

• Leesburg Elementary (Lake County)

"Our Foundation board is proud of work the Renovate to Educate program has done transforming teachers’ classrooms over the years, but we believe we can make an even deeper impact now for more students and families by helping them meet some truly fundamental needs," said Cristina Lehman, Executive Director of the Addition Financial Foundation. "By focusing on 'needs spaces,' we aim to support the entire school community and ensure that every student has access to essential resources."

The renovations will take place over the summer, with Addition Financial Credit Union teaming up with Interior Design interns from Seminole State College to transform and organize these vital spaces. The Foundation will also fully stock the rooms with food and supplies. The goal is to have the new 'needs spaces' ready for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, providing a fresh and supportive environment for students and families in need.

About Addition Financial Foundation

The Addition Financial Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2021 whose mission is to foster empowerment in the Central Florida community through financial education and charitable giving. The Foundation partners with local school districts, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that positively impact the community. To learn more about the Addition Financial Foundation, visit Foundation.additionfi.com.