The Education Foundation of Lake County is embarking on the third year of implementing grant funding through the investment from the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation. This initiative aims to increase student interest in healthcare careers and promote successful participation in high school healthcare career academies. Year three also includes an additional $33,750, to the allocated $101,250 grant, totaling $135,000 supporting these initiatives.
The first two years of the DeLuca grant supported the purchasing of Juno Nursing Skills Manakins for Leesburg High School and South Lake High School. These tools create hands-on experiences for participating students and enable teachers to deliver high-quality instruction. More than 3,000 students across middle schools and high schools received informational resources related to healthcare careers. Strong certification performance was also evident following the first two years of the grant for EKG Technicians (69% in 2024-2025 and 61% in 2025-2026), Patient Care Technician (97% in 2024-2025 and 75% in 2025-2026), and Nursing Assistant (96% in 2024-2025 and 100% in 2025-2026).
In addition to enhancing the classroom experience for year 3, funds will also support teacher grants in the Allied Health Assisting & Nursing Assisting programs, as well as cover the expenses for two field trips to local healthcare institutions. As one of the fastest growing industries in Florida, the Education Foundation is proud to enhance the student experience in partnership with the DeLuca Foundation and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. “We are grateful for the continued trust of the DeLuca Foundation and Consortium that we will invest in our students and enhance the quality of the learning experiences the Lake County classrooms,” said Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Director of the Education Foundation. “We are excited to build on the first two years by creating meaningful experiences in the community at local healthcare facilities.” The grant funding concludes at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
About the Education Foundation of Lake County
Established in 1987, Education Foundation of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and
designated direct support organization for Lake County Schools. Our mission is to serve as
the connection between our community and public education, evaluating needs and securing resources to
enhance the quality of education. The Education Foundation of Lake County operates for the benefit
of students and teachers in Lake County public schools.
