LEAP

The Educational Foundation’s Lexington Education Assistance Plan supports the district’s educational initiatives and priorities by providing financial assistance in areas of need. When you donate to the LEAP Education fund, you support educational programs that teach our students to communicate, innovate, collaborate and think critically.

We prioritize educational programs that enhance students’ learning.  In the past it provided grants to school libraries and helped build a STEM lab. Recently our focus has been on reading initiatives and strengthening literacy in Lexington District One, as the foundation has awarded more than $186,500 in Bucks for Books Grants over the last eight years. Last school year all third through fifth grade elementary classrooms benefitted, but since inception, every elementary, middle and high school has received a Bucks for Books Grant. Studies show that children who have more contact with books become better readers. Appropriately, your support of our LEAP Education fund helps to foster strong readers in Lexington District One!

The Educational Foundation’s Lexington Emergency Assistance Plan supports Lexington District One employees, students and their families in a number of ways, thanks to the generosity of those who donate to it each year!

First, it assists our families that have experienced a recent crisis and need temporary help to survive by offering financial assistance and/or in-kind services. Employees and students in crisis must be nominated a current, permanent employee (i.e., individuals may not nominate themselves) and can obtain a LEAP Emergency Application from their school or department volunteer LEAP Representative.

Aid may be given to Lexington District One students and permanent full-time and part-time employees. The fund has helped employees who were struggling with a serious illness, students’ families who’ve suffered total loss from a home fire, as well as many others in need. Assistance may include payments towards utility bills, rent or mortgage, or medical bills, as well as food; however, grant aid typically excludes any payments for housing insurance, vehicle purchases/insurance, childcare, security deposits, domestic dispute, and workers’ compensation issues.

Second, the LEAP Emergency fund provides help to Lexington One students in need of medical, dental, or vision services that prevent the students from learning. Often a student’s teacher may discover such a challenge and refer the student to the school’s nurse and assigned Lexington One Social Worker, who then communicates with foundation staff.

Furthermore, the Emergency Fund has provided more than $200,000 in Helping Hands Grants to schools since 2020 so that school leaders can quickly help students with need-based aid that may not merit a full assistance application. Health Fund Grants have also purchased four Spot Vision Screeners to date to support Lexington District One nurses safely and more efficiently test students’ vision for disorders, in addition to digital thermometers. Our Higher Education Support Grants to our graduating seniors with substantial financial need assist students who will pursue a college education with dorm room needs and/or academic support. While our International Teacher Grants support our Lexington District One teachers who are new to the country and struggling financially as they get settled in the community. LEAP Emergency funds exist to support our Lexington District One families in need, so thanks for your donations that make such grant assistance possible!

Learn more about the Lexington One Educational Foundation’s LEAP Funds by checking out our 2025-2026 LEAP Flyer!  

Lexington District One Employees may make financial donations to the LEAP campaign anytime during the year. However, the Educational Foundation’s LEAP Campaign is always held during the first three weeks of the school year upon the teachers return to work. Our amazing volunteers, LEAP Representatives, are wonderful to share the news with all Lexington District One employees in their various schools and departments.

Upon donating, individuals do have to determine if a gift should be directed to the LEAP Education Fund, the LEAP Emergency Fund, or both LEAP Funds. Employees indicate this on the annual pledge fund form, but community donors should share this information in writing with foundation staff.

Individuals who do not work for the district may also donate to our LEAP funds and/or considering giving to our other Educational Foundation funds that support Lexington District One. We welcome individuals to contact our executive director to learn more about how to support the Lexington One Educational Foundation’s many endeavors!

To apply for LEAP Emergency Grant Assistance, please contact your school’s or department’s volunteer LEAP representative as listed below. This volunteer will discuss your crisis with you to help determine if you qualify based on LEAP Emergency guidelines. If fitting, he or she will then provide you with a LEAP Emergency Grant Application and assist you with the application process. Our staff and volunteers are always empathetic with an individual’s challenges, however, please know that LEAP Emergency Grant Assistance is need-based. Accordingly, applicants must have documentation that verifies financial need in order to qualify. Thank your for sharing this emergency assistance program with any families in crisis in Lexington District One!

The Lexington High School Boys Soccer Team and Coach Will Gettys caringly established the Cats Kick Cancer Fund in 2018 to help support individuals in Lexington District One who are battling cancer.

For Lexington District One students, teachers, staff or parents of Lexington One students who are struggling financially due to a tough battle with cancer, you may apply for emergency grant assistance via the Cats Kick Cancer Fund, as well as the LEAP Emergency Fund. To apply, reach out to your school or department LEAP Representative to find out if you qualify. Both funds require a completed LEAP Emergency Application for consideration.

The team members are passionate about the Cats Kick Cancer effort and the Educational Foundation leadership is privileged to receive donations each year and administer the fund along with its LEAP Emergency Fund. Watch our Cats Kick Cancer video to learn more about this wonderful, restricted fund that supports Lexington District One students, employees and student’s parents who are battling cancer and need temporary grant aid to make ends meet!