July 9, 2025 News

The Top 10 Grantee Schools Chosen by Public School Giving Circle Voting Members for the 2024/25 School Year Cycle!

The inaugural Philadelphia Public School Giving Circle voting members successfully selected grantees for the 2024/2025 school year cycle! Here are the top 10 grantees that were elected by the voting members:

Bache-Martin Elementary – Visual Aids for Deaf Education
We are thrilled to support Bache-Martin Elementary’s initiative to create visually rich learning materials for their deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Funding will provide color printers and laminators, enabling teachers to develop color-coded educational aids, visual schedules, and ASL handouts. These resources are essential for making complex information accessible and memorable, ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
Frankford High School – Frankford High School Culture Day
Frankford High School’s Culture Day is a vibrant celebration of the school’s diverse community. This event brings together students, families, and staff to share cultural traditions and pride, fostering unity, safety, and belonging. Funds will support craft supplies and event costs, empowering students—especially newcomers—to lead music, dance, games, crafts, and food from around the world. Culture Day is a vital step in making Frankford a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Girard, Stephen School – Nourish our School Garden!
Girard Elementary’s school garden is a community treasure, serving as an outdoor classroom, a gathering space for families, and a source of pride for students. Funding will help purchase mulch, compost, fertilizer, plants, and new garden tools, ensuring the garden thrives and continues to provide hands-on learning opportunities. With these resources, students will develop stewardship skills, and the garden will remain a beautiful, sustainable space for years to come.
Hill-Freedman World Academy – Supportive Technology for the Classroom
Hill-Freedman World Academy seeks to keep every student connected to learning, even when technology fails. Funds will provide extra Chromebooks, charging strips, and chargers, ensuring that students whose devices break or run out of power can continue their work without interruption. This initiative is crucial for maintaining daily learning and preventing students from falling behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Abraham Lincoln High School – The Coffee Spectrum
Abraham Lincoln High School’s Coffee Spectrum project empowers students with disabilities through hands-on vocational training and community engagement. Funding will establish a student-led coffee cart, providing equipment, supplies, and start-up inventory. This initiative promotes independence, life skills, financial literacy, and inclusivity, while generating ongoing support for classroom and community experiences.
Shawmont School – Cardboard Engineering
Shawmont School is elevating its makerspace with new tools for cardboard engineering projects. Funding will purchase a Chomp Saw, low-temp hot glue guns, and protective gloves, enabling students to design, build, and innovate with greater ease and safety. These resources will boost creativity, critical thinking, and engagement in STEAM learning activities.
William H. Hunter School – Wheelchair Accessible Garden Beds
William H. Hunter School is expanding its inclusive garden program by adding two wheelchair-accessible garden beds. These beds ensure that students with disabilities can fully participate in planting, tending, and harvesting alongside their peers. The project supports hands-on learning in science, math, nutrition, and more, while fostering a sense of pride and belonging for all students.
William Rowen School – Headphones for Computer Lab Needed
William Rowen School is seeking to improve student focus and learning outcomes in its computer lab. Funding will provide 30 new headphones, allowing students to concentrate on instructions and content without distractions. This upgrade is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of digital learning tools and supporting academic success.
Cook-Wissahickon School – Gear Up on Headphones
Cook-Wissahickon’s piano lab serves nearly 400 students each semester, and quality headphones are essential for individualized, immersive learning. Funding will supply durable, classroom-ready headphones, enabling students to hear their performances and instructional tracks clearly. This investment will enhance music theory comprehension, piano technique, and overall engagement in the lab.
Martin Luther King High School – Cougar Baristas
We are excited to support the Cougar Baristas program at Martin Luther King High School! This innovative classroom business empowers students with intellectual and social disabilities by teaching them real-world life, math, reading, customer service, and entrepreneurial skills. Students run their own café, making and selling flavored coffee drinks and homemade pastries to the school community. Grant funds will replenish essential café supplies—like coffee, creamers, cups, condiments, pastry ingredients, gloves, aprons, and even equipment such as a microwave or refrigerator/freezer. This support enables students to continue learning critical job and money management skills, while also expanding their menu this spring.

The Philadelphia Public School Giving Circle (PPSGC) is a collective philanthropy initiative designed to empower donors to make a meaningful impact on Philadelphia’s neighborhood public schools through targeted micro-grants. Founded by three passionate community members, the PPSGC pools donations from individuals or tight-knit groups, and allocates these funds to support small-scale, high-impact projects in underserved schools throughout the city. PPSGC membership starts at the $250 level.

How the Giving Circle works

The Philadelphia Public School Giving Circle empowers donors by inviting them to actively participate in the decision-making process regarding grant allocations. All members have the opportunity to vote on micro grant proposals submitted by local educators and school staff on a quarterly basis. Your contributions will not only support vital projects, but also connect you with the initiatives that resonate most with you, giving you a meaningful voice in helping to support our public schools.

How you can join for the next grant cycle

Joining the PPSGC is simple. Click here to make a minimum donation of $250 to become a voting member for the next grant cycle. Once you are a member and all mini-grant applications are in, you will have the opportunity to vote on your favorite.

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