Cheering as theiy stand in front of the Teacher's Fund bus are this year's committee members Vince Caballero, Sheela Hunt, Natalie Grubb, Marcy Bazanni, Brianna Johnson (co-chair), Renee Grubb (co-chair), Dianne Johnson, Angel Speier, Lourika Van Tonder, and David Magid. (Courtesy photo)
Cheering their efforts are this year's Teacher's Fund committee members Vince Caballero, Sheela Hunt, Natalie Grubb, Marcy Bazanni, Brianna Johnson (co-chair), Renee Grubb (co-chair), Dianne Johnson, Angel Speier, Lourika Van Tonder, and David Magid. (Courtesy photo)

More than $160,000 is headed into local classrooms, thanks to an outpouring of community support for the 2026 Teacher’s Fund School Supplies Drive.

The annual School Supplies Drive, which is Teacher’s Fund’s signature fundraiser, provides the majority of the money used to award classroom grants throughout the year.

“From everyday essentials like pencils, notebooks, and art supplies to innovative projects including robotics, science experiments, butterfly gardens, music programs, and other hands-on learning experiences, these funds will help local educators bring learning to life for thousands of students,” Teacher’s Fund leaders said.

“Since 2002, Teacher’s Fund has invested more than $2.5 million in local classrooms, providing teachers with the supplies and resources they need to create meaningful learning opportunities for their students,” they said.

Founded in 2002 by community leader and Village Properties owner Renee Grubb, Teacher’s Fund began with a simple but powerful observation: teachers were regularly spending their own money to provide classroom supplies for their students.

“When we started Teacher’s Fund, the goal was simple,” said Grubb. “Teachers should never have to choose between their own paycheck and giving students the tools they need to succeed. More than two decades later, our community continues to make that vision a reality.”

This year’s fundraising campaign culminated in the annual Teacher’s Fund Supplies Drive Donor Celebration, bringing together teachers, sponsors, local businesses, and community members for an evening of food, drinks, a silent auction, and celebration, all in support of local classrooms.

“Raising more than $160,000 is an incredible reflection of how deeply this community values its teachers,” said Brianna Johnson, co-chair of the 2026 Teacher’s Fund School Supplies Drive. “Every sponsor, donor, business, and community member who participated helped make this possible.

“These dollars will go directly back into our local classrooms, giving teachers the resources they need to spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and help students discover what’s possible.”

Teacher’s Fund thanks the sponsors, donors, volunteers, local businesses, and community members whose generosity made this year’s campaign such a success. Because when a community invests in its teachers, every classroom becomes a place where possibility can flourish.

For more about Teacher’s Fund or to continue supporting local classrooms, visit SupportTeachersFund.org or email Johnson at brianna@villagesite.com.