Helping Kids Mini Grant Program
This program helps public school districts meet urgent health, mental health, education and social service needs that impact children and their families.
Since 2012, Sourcewell and AASA have joined forces to bring the Helping Kids Mini Grant Program, an urgent mini grant that is funded by AASA through a partnership with Sourcewell, to AASA and Sourcewell members.
The mini grants have been used for everything from urgent everyday necessities to natural disaster relief.
In 2023, the grant was increased to $108,000 in funds to help with everything from urgent everyday necessities to disaster relief for individual students and their families.
Thank you to Sourcewell, AASA's Government Cooperative Procurement Partner, for its continuing support of AASA and the mini grant program.
- To be considered, the grant applicant must be a current AASA member.
- To check if you are an AASA member or retrieve your AASA member ID, please contact membership@aasa.org.
- Your school district must also be registered with Sourcewell as a participating agency. Sourcewell registration is free with no obligation to purchase.
- Not sure if you're a Sourcewell member? Check your status here or quickly and easily register here.
Applications are typically accepted on an annual basis beginning in September.
AASA and Sourcewell may decide to waive applications and award grants based on urgent needs due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. natural disasters).
From the 2023 Grant Awardees:
Some of our students cannot access text due to a reading disability, so we have decided to use the funding to purchase Reading Pens. Especially post-pandemic, we have students in intermediate and junior high, who are in content-heavy classes like science and social studies, who cannot read at the level the content demands. Our students will have a pen and earbuds and be able to scan the text and have it read to them, which will allow them to be fully included and independent in these classes. Thanks so much for your generosity! This is a purchase we would otherwise have been unable to make.
Kadee Anstadt, Superintendent/CEO, Washington Local Schools (Ohio)
We used these funds to support ten families who were significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian and continue to have significant needs as a result of this event. The funds were used to create holiday family baskets (hampers) with laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, sheets, blankets, snacks, drinks, and many other useful items. Also included was a gift card that could be used for food over the extended break. Through your donation, you have helped to ensure that our neediest families had their basic needs met over the holiday season.
JESSICA DUNCAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STUDENT SERVICES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY (Fla.)
We are very appreciative to be a recipient of the Helping Kids Mini Grant Program. The funds were used to modify our playground at Rydal Elementary School to allow for students and staff using motorized or manual wheelchairs and scooters the means to access all of the recreational areas. These new pathways allow students to access the equipment and play with their peers during recess, before and after school. The facilities are also available when school is closed to all of the community members who may need a solid and smooth surface for transport.
JEFFREY S. FECHER, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT (PA.)
Past Grant Recipients
2023: $108,000 in funds were distributed to 35 school districts across the country and have been used for everything from urgent everyday necessities to disaster relief. Read More
2022: 23 Grants of $3,500 were given to districts and have been used for everything from urgent everyday necessities to disaster relief. Read More
2021: 32 grants of $2,500 were given to districts to address urgent equity, connectivity and virtual learning needs of individual students and their families. Read More
2020: 6 grants of $2,500 were given to districts impacted by natural disasters and grants of the same value were given to 22 other districts for other important needs. Read More
In 2019, grants of $2,000 each were given to 22 hurricane and wildfire-affected school districts and one foundation.
Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District, Newman, CA
Superintendent: Randy Fillpot
Franklin County School, Eastpoint, FL
Superintendent: Traci Moses
Baker County K12 School, Newton, GA
Superintendent: Roy G. Brooks
Calhoun County School District, Morgan, GA
Superintendent: Shereca R. Harvey
Miller County Schools, Colquitt, GA
Superintendent: James Phillips
Terrell County Schools, Dawson, GA
Superintendent: Robert D. Aaron
Thomas County School District, Thomasville, GA
Superintendent: Lisa Williams
East Peoria CHSD 309, East Peoria, IL
Superintendent: Marjorie Greuter
Indian Prairie School District 204, Aurora, IL
Superintendent: Karen Sullivan
Intermediate District 287, Plymouth, MN
Superintendent: Sandra Lewandowsi
Rockwood School District, Eureka, MO
Superintendent: Eric D. Knost
Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC
Superintendent: Sharon Contreras
Pender County Schools, Burgaw, NC
Superintendent: Steven Hill
Nashua School District, Nashua, NH
Superintendent: Jahmal Mosley
Gouverneur Central School District, Gouverneur, NY
Superintendent: Lauren French
Crooksville Exempted Village School District, Crooksville, OH
Superintendent: Matthew L. Sheridan
Bristol Township School District, Levittown, PA
Superintendent: Melanie Gehrens
Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22, Doylestown, PA
Superintendent: Mark Hoffman
Centennial School District, Warminster, PA
Superintendent: David E. Baugh
Galena Park Independent School District, Houston, TX
Superintendent: Angi M. Williams
Vancouver Public Schools, Vancouver, WA
Superintendent: Steven T. Webb
Cadott Community Schools, Cadott, WI
Superintendent: Jenny Starck
In 2018, grants of $2,000 each were given to 28 hurricane-affected school districts in Texas and Florida.
Florida:
Collier County Public Schools
Superintendent: Kamela K. Patton
Duvall County Public Schools
Superintendent: Patricia S. Willis
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Superintendent: Jeff Eakins
Lee County School District
Superintendent: Gregory K. Adkins
School District of Manatee County
Superintendent: Rick Mills
Monroe County School District
Superintendent: Mark T. Porter
Pinellas County Schools
Superintendent: Michael Grego
Sarasota County Public Schools
Superintendent: Todd Bowden
Texas:
Aldine Independent School District
Superintendent: Wanda Bamberg
Aransas County Independent School District
Superintendent: Joseph T. Patek
Aransas Pass Independent School District
Superintendent: Mark Kemp
Beaumont Independent School District
Superintendent: John Frossard
Clear Creek Independent School District
Superintendent: Greg Smith
Corpus Christi Independent School District
Superintendent: Roland Hernandez
Crosby Independent School District
Superintendent: Keith Moore
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Superintendent: Mark Henry
Galena Park ISD
Superintendent: Angi Williams
Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District
Superintendent: Randal O'Brien
Gregory-Portland Independent School District
Superintendent: Paul Clore
Huffman Independent School District
Superintendent: Benny Soileau
Ingleside ISD
Superintendent: Troy Craig
Mircovich
Pasadena Independent School District
Superintendent: DeeAnn Powell
Port Aransas Independent School District
Superintendent: Sharon McKinney
Spring Branch Independent School District
Superintendent: Joe Scott
Muri
Spring Independent School District
Superintendent: Rodney Watson
Taft Independent School District
Superintendent: Joe Lopez
Tuloso-Midway Independent School District
Superintendent: Suzanne Nelson
Refugio Independent School District
Superintendent: Melissa Gonzales
In 2017, 28 mini grants were awarded.
Region 1:
Bethel School District (Spanaway, Wash.)
Superintendent: Thomas Seigel
Hydaburg City School District (Hydaburg, Alaska)
Superintendent: Lauren Burch
Milpitas Unified School District (Milpitas, Calif.)
Superintendent: Cheryl Jordan
Willamina School District (Willamina, Ore.)
Superintendent: Carrie Zimbrick
Region 2:
Creighton School District No. 14 (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Superintendent: Donna W. Lewis
El Dorado Public Schools-USD 490 (El Dorado, Kan.)
Superintendent: Sue Givens
Spring Independent School District (Houston, Texas)
Superintendent: Rodney E. Watson
Taos Municipal Schools (Taos, N.M.)
Superintendent: Lillian Torrez
Region 3:
Bellevue Public Schools (Bellevue, Neb.)
Superintendent: Jeff Rippe
Crete Public Schools (Crete, Neb.)
Superintendent: Mike Waters
Ecorse Public Schools (Ecorse, Mich.)
Superintendent: Thomas Parker
Walker Hackensack Akeley School District (Walker, Minn.)
Superintendent: Eric Pingrey
Region 4:
Cook County School District 130 (Blue Island, Ill.)
Superintendent: Tina Halliman
East Dubuque School District (East Dubuque, Ill.)
Superintendent: Tori Lindeman
Grandview C-4 School District (Grandview, Mo.)
Superintendent: Kenny Rodrequez
Jennings School District (Jennings, Mo.)
Superintendent: Art McCoy
Region 5:
Cleveland School District (Cleveland, Miss.)
Superintendent: Jacquelyn C. Thigpen
Colbert County Schools (Tuscumbia, Ala.)
Superintendent: Gale Satchel
Lexington City Schools (Lexington, N.C.)
Superintendent: Richard Kriesky
Tarrant City Schools (Tarrant, Ala.)
Superintendent: Shelly N. Mize
Region 6:
Central Greene School District (Waynesburg, Pa.)
Superintendent: Brian T. Uplinger
Ridley School District (Folsom, Pa.)
Superintendent: Lee Ann Wentzel
Roselle Public Schools (Roselle, N.J.)
Superintendent: Kevin West
York Suburban School District (York, Pa.)
Superintendent: Michele Merkle
Region 7:
East Providence Public Schools (East Providence, R.I.)
Superintendent: Kathryn Crowley
Milford Public Schools (Milford, Conn.)
Superintendent: Kevin McIntyre
Maine School Administrative District #1 (Presque Isle, Maine)
Superintendent: Brian M. Carpenter
Newport Public Schools (Newport, R.I.)
Superintendent: Colleen Burns Jermain
In 2016, 28 mini grants were awarded.
Region 1:
Franklin Pierce School District (Tacoma, Wash.)
Superintendent:
Frank Hewins
Vancouver School District #37 (Vancouver, Wash.)
Superintendent: Steven Webb
Moses Lake School District (Moses Lake, Wash.)
Superintendent: Michelle Price
Ridgefield School District (Ridgefield, Wash.)
Superintendent: Nathan McCann
Region 2:
Washington Elementary School District (Glendale, Ariz.)
Superintendent: Paul Stanton
Yuma School District One (Yuma, Ariz.)
Superintendent: Darwin J. Stiffler
Marana Unified School District (Marana, Ariz.)
Superintendent: Doug Wilson
Central Consolidated School District (Shiprock, N.M.)
Superintendent: Colleen Bowman
Region 3:
Rapid City Area Schools (Rapid City, S.D.)
Superintendent: Tim Mitchell
Intermediate District 287 (Plymouth, Minn.);
Superintendent: Sandra Lewandowski
School District of Luck (Luck, Wis.);
Superintendent: Christopher J. Schultz
Brainerd Public Schools - ISD #0181-01 (Barinerd, Minn.)
Superintendent: Robert Gross
Region 4:
Cook County School District 130 (Blue Island, Ill.)
Superintendent: Tina Halliman
Barren County Public Schools (Glasgow, Ky.)
Superintendent: Bo Matthews
Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, Ky.)
Superintendent: Donna M. Hargens
Riverview Gardens School District (St. Louis, Mo.)
Superintendent: Scott Spurgeon
Region 5:
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, Fl.)
Superintendent: Jeff Eakins
Sylacauga City Schools (Sylacauga, Ala.)
Superintendent: Todd Freeman
Clarke County School District (Athens, Ga.)
Superintendent: Philip Lanoue
Fairfax County Public Schools (Fairfax County, Va.)
Superintendent: Karen K. Garza
Region 6:
Long Branch Public Schools (Long Branch, N.J.)
Superintendent: Michael Salvatore
Northwestern Lehigh School District (New Tripoli, Pa.)
Superintendent: Mary Anne Wright
Warren County School District (Warren, Pa.)
Superintendent: William A. Clark
School District of Lancaster (Lancaster, Pa.)
Superintendent: Damaris Rau
Region 7:
Fitchburg Public Schools (Fitchburg, Mass.)
Superintendent: Andre Ravenelle
Roosevelt Union Free School District (Hempstead, N.Y.)
Superintendent: Marnie Hazelton
Wareham Public Schools (Wareham, Mass.)
Superintendent: Kimberly Shaver-Hood
Orleans Central Supervisory Union (Barton, Vt.)
Superintendent: Donald Van Nostrand
In 2015, 14 mini grants were awarded.
South Lane School District (Cottage Grove, Ore.)
Superintendent: Krista Parent
Mountain View School District (Ontario, Calif.)
Superintendent: Lillian Maldonado French
West Ada School District (Meridian, Idaho)
Superintendent: Linda Clark
Long Prairie Grey Eagle Public Schools (Long Prairie, Minn.)
Superintendent: Jon Kringen
Colon Community Schools (Colin, Mich.)
Superintendent: Vic Bugni
Fort Wayne Community Schools (Ft. Wayne, Ind.)
Superintendent: Wendy Robinson
Schiller Park School District (Schiller Park, Ill.)
Director of Communications: Kathy Brant
Lawrence County Schools (Moulton, Ala.)
Superintendent: Heath Grimes
Savanah-Chatham County Public Schools (Savannah, Ga.)
Superintendent: Thomas B. Lockamy
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, Fla.)
Superintendent: MaryEllen Elia
Warren County School District (Russell, Pa.)
Executive Director, Second Harvest: Karen Seggi
Quakertown Community School District (Quakertown, Pa.)
Superintendent: William Harner
Malverne UFSD (Malverne, N.Y.)
Superintendent: James H. Hunderfund
Torrington Public Schools, (Torrington, Ct.)
Superintendent: Cheryl F. Kloczko
In 2014, seven mini grants were awarded and the funds were used to furnish items such as food and clothing and in some instances, temporary housing stipends.
- Auburn-Washington Unified School District (Topeka, Kan.)
- East St. Louis School District (East St. Louis, Ill.)
- Franklin Pierce School District (Tacoma, Wash.)
- Grenada School District (Grenada, Miss.)
- Long Branch Public Schools (Long Branch, N.J.)
- Meriden Public Schools (Meriden, Conn.)
- Wausau School District (Wausau, Wisc.).
In 2013, seven mini grants were awarded to different public school districts, each representing one in each of AASA's seven regions.
Region 1:
East Helena Public Schools (Montana)
Superintendent: Ron Whitmoyer
Region 2:
Cuba Independent Schools (New Mexico)
Superintendent: Vicki Smith
Region 3:Rapid City Area Schools (South Dakota)
Superintendent: Tim Mitchell
Region 4:Pattonville School District (Missouri)
Superintendent: Michael Fulton
Region 5:Ware County Schools (Georgia)
Superintendent: Joseph Barrow, Jr.
Region 6:Hempfield School District (Pennsylvania)
Superintendent: Brenda Becker
Region 7:Bangor School Department (Maine)
Superintendent: Betsy Webb
