Tools and Tech for a Brighter Future
Orlando, FL – Thousands of Central Florida students and teachers will begin the school year with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed thanks to a $190,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, led by philanthropist and New York Mets Owner Alex Cohen.
This investment in the Central Florida community will ensure not only free access to essential classroom supplies through A Gift for Teaching, but also to transformative music education opportunities.
Supporting Teachers, Equipping Students for Success
Throughout the academic year, teachers are often compelled to spend their own money on classroom materials. A significant portion of the grant will help secure and distribute these essential supplies as well as provide 30,000 fully stocked backpacks for students attending some of Orange and Osceola County’s most under-resourced public schools.
For a teacher, this means a financial burden lifted from their shoulders. For a student, it means walking into class ready to learn with confidence every day. Each notebook, pencil, and crayon distributed through A Gift for Teaching represents one less obstacle between a future leader and their potential.
Investing in Infrastructure for Greater Impact
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation will also provide critical operational support by funding the replacement of a 19-year-old electric pallet jack and upgrading 20 outdated computers. While these investments may happen behind the scenes, their impact will be felt throughout A Gift for Teaching and its mission.
Behind every backpack delivered, and every classroom supplied is a network of staff, volunteers, and systems working together to serve local schools. A new pallet jack will improve warehouse efficiency and reliability while updated computers will strengthen data security and technology needed to better serve teachers.
Creating Opportunities Through Music
Through A Gift for Music, a program of A Gift for Teaching, the grant’s impact will extend beyond traditional classroom resources and into opportunities that inspire creativity and personal growth.
Funding will provide six student cellos, two double basses, as well as curriculum materials and supplies needed for budding musicians, at no cost to their families. As one of Florida’s most comprehensive tuition-free string education programs, A Gift for Music provides free after-school programs, weekend orchestras, and summer camp to low-income students from elementary school to high school.
A Shared Commitment to Community
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation supported A Gift for Teaching through the Giving Tour, a core initiative created by Foundation President Alex Cohen. The Giving Tour is on a mission to discover and support inspiring nonprofit organizations in all 50 states.
Because of this community investment, Central Florida students will enter classrooms better prepared, teachers will receive greater access to free educational resources, and aspiring musicians will have new opportunities to explore their talents.
Together, A Gift for Teaching and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation are helping build a future where every child has the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.
