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, AASA and Sourcewell, our government cooperative procurement partner, have joined forces to bring the Helping Kids Mini Grant Program to AASA members, who are also Sourcewell account holders, to assist districts with specific needs.
The mini grants have been used for everything from urgent everyday necessities to natural disaster relief. This year, there is $42,000 in grant funding to help with improving school infrastructure to improve learning.
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 in good standing.
- To check if you are an AASA member or retrieve your AASA member ID, please log in to your AASA account or contact membership@aasa.org.
- Be part of a school district with a registered Sourcewell account. Sourcewell account registration is free with no obligation to purchase.
- To check if your school district has a registered account with Sourcewell or to retrieve your Sourcewell account ID, please click here.
- To create a free registered account with no obligation to buy, click here.
Sourcewell offers accounts to all government agencies, public and private schools/colleges, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit https://sourcewell-mn.gov.
Applications closed on November 10, 2024.
Winners will be announced on January 13, 2025.
Please note: AASA and Sourcewell may decide to waive applications and award grants based on urgent needs due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. natural disasters).
From 2024 Grant Awardees:
We were so excited to receive the AASA | Sourcewell Helping Hands grant and are looking forward to the good work that will come from our students having the opportunity to utilize the Echo 2 Digital Smartpen in classrooms. We were fortunate in the timing of the grant and were able to get the bundle for our students - which came with the pens and notebooks - which allow students to easily record audio notes and information in their handwritten notes. We believe this will add a benefit for students who are auditory learners, or who may process information at different rates and leverage learning for students of different abilities across the classroom. Since we initially wrote the grant, we have continued to identify students who would benefit from the technology for instance: English as a Second Language students and Foreign Exchange students. The Helping Hands Grant is going to open technology for students to expand their notetaking, writing and organization skills and ultimately increase student achievement. Tim Webster, Superintendent, St. James R-1 School District, St. James (Mo.)
Past Grant Recipients
2024: $80,500 in funds were distributed to 23 school districts across the country and have been used for urgent technology-related necessities. Read More
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
In Partnership with Sourcewell
Click the video below for a special message from Chad Coauette, Chief Executive Officer, Sourcewell
Questions?
We are delighted to be the recipients of the $3,500 Helping Kids Mini Grant from AASA and Sourcewell. For students to be successful 21st century citizens, they must be prepared to proficiently use technology. In fact, our District's Portrait of a Graduate defines our desire for Twinsburg High School graduates to be aware, open-minded, collaborative, agile, and engaged. Each of these tenets requires students to harness technology in order to successfully be employed, enlisted, or enrolled. To that end, the Twinsburg City School District issues a Chromebook to each student. Unfortunately, with 25% of our students eligible for the Federal Meal Program, not all students have the benefit of internet access at their homes. Thanks to the $3,500 grant from AASA Sourcewell, our District will be able to provide internet access through hotspots to qualifying families. We sincerely appreciate these grant funds as they will directly impact our students and their success. Thank you, once again, for this opportunity!
Kathi Powers, Superintendent, Twinsburg City School District, Twinsburg (Ohio)