The Education Foundation of Lake County is proud to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from Universal Orlando Foundation, Inc., awarded during the Universal Orlando Foundation’s 4th Annual Celebration of Giving on December 4, 2025.
The grant will support the modernization of Apple-Mart, the Education Foundation’s teacher resource stores, by helping digitize and enhance operations to better serve educators across Lake County Schools.
Since 1998, Universal Orlando Foundation, Inc. has awarded more than $35 million to Central Florida nonprofit organizations focused on education, families, and basic needs. This year alone, the Foundation distributed $1.5 million across six counties, continuing its long-standing commitment to strengthening communities throughout the region.
The Apple-Mart program addresses a critical need in Lake County by ensuring that teachers and support staff have equitable access to free classroom supplies throughout the school year. Each year, educators across the nation personally spend between $500 and $750 of their own income on classroom materials. As educational needs and technology evolve, Apple Mart is preparing for its next phase of growth. The program sought $50,000 in grant funding to digitize and modernize operations, creating a more efficient, data-driven system that would enhance access, improve equity, and expand capacity to serve more educators across the county.
“We are incredibly grateful to Universal Orlando Foundation for this investment in our educators,” said Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Director of the Education Foundation. “This funding allows us to modernize Apple-Mart, improving access, efficiency, and impact so we can better support teachers and, ultimately provide students resources they need to be successful.”
The Education Foundation of Lake County’s Apple-Mart program provides educators with essential classroom supplies at no cost, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses and ensuring students have the tools they need to learn and thrive.
For more information about the Education Foundation of Lake County and Apple-Mart, visit our website.
