2025- Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program Partnership- Butler, PA
As the school year kicked off, Better Together Foundation focused on executing our Q3 Better Education initiatives. This year, we partnered with the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program in the Butler Area School District (PA). This nonprofit program assists K–5 students who may need food supplies over the weekend, ensuring that hunger does not hinder learning.
As part of their “Stuff the Bus” back-to-school drive, Better Together Foundation purchased 230 individual meals to be sent home with students on weekends. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting educational success by addressing basic needs and promoting stability for children in our community.
2025- Pathfinder School Partnership-Bethel Park, PA
Our Better Education initiatives continued with a meaningful partnership at Pathfinder School in Bethel Park, PA. Pathfinder serves students ages 5–21 with special educational needs, providing individualized support and resources to help every student thrive.
Better Together Foundation contributed $1,000 toward the development of an indoor sensory playground, a space designed to encourage physical activity and engagement year-round, especially during the winter months. This project will create a safe, stimulating environment that promotes movement, sensory development, and social interaction for students with diverse needs.
2025-Baechtel Grove Middle School-Willits, CA
Our 2025 Better Education initiatives extended across the country as we partnered with Meghan White, an art teacher at Baechtel Grove Middle School in Willits, California. Meghan has been a passionate educator for over eight years, teaching art to 6th–8th graders in an economically disadvantaged area.
One of Meghan’s greatest challenges has been securing enough art supplies to provide a rich and engaging program for her students. Through the generosity of our donors, Better Together Foundation was able to clear her Amazon classroom wish list, ensuring her students have all the materials they need for a robust art experience this school year.
We were thrilled to receive handwritten thank-you notes from every student, expressing their gratitude for the supplies provided. This project reflects our commitment to supporting educators and creating opportunities for students to thrive through creativity and learning.
2024- Education Initiatives
Meet Elaina, a teacher at Provident Charter School (PCS) in the Troy Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Better Together was able to purchase her entire classroom wish list this fall! Additionally, we were able to purchase a tranquility reading cube for her classroom. PCS is designed to serve children with dyslexia and other language-based learning disorders to give them access to high quality education tailored to their needs.
See below message from Elaina:
“These items will immensely help my students with their mental health & emotional needs!! We also have a wonderful new reading cube arriving soon!! I cannot wait for the board members to come visit my classroom soon! How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time, I am beyond blessed.”
2024- Memminger Elementary-Charleston, SC
Our next project took us to Charleston, SC where we were introduced to Ms. Williman's classroom. Ms. Williman teaches at Memminger Elementary alongside Ms. Erin Wood's, whose family supports our organization. Ms. Williman had many items she needed to give her students the best possible experience this year. Thanks to this connection, we were able to purchase her entire classroom Wishlist. Items purchased include STEM building kits, games, and crafts.
2024- Glade Run Lutheran Services Partnership- Zelienople, PA
We were able to partner with Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople, PA. Glade Run operates a private school, St. Stephen's Academy. School districts place students at St Stephen’s so that the child can benefit from therapeutic interventions in an educational setting. St. Stephen’s has been recognized in the past as a model program in Pennsylvania for School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports. We were able to provide the students at St. Stephen's with over 20 sets of wireless Bluetooth headphones. This donation was made possible by the generous support of corporate sponsor Deep Well Services, also headquartered in Zelienople.
Please see below note from Glade Run:
"So many of the children and youth served by Glade Run struggle with sensory issues as a result of developmental disabilities, including autism. Many people with autism experience heightened sensitivity to sounds, making everyday noises seem overwhelming and distressing. Wearing headphones provides a barrier that reduces the intensity of external sounds and helps to create a more soothing and manageable auditory environment. With the noises naturally generated in our school, home and community environments, headphones are the most requested item at Glade Run. We're so grateful to the Better Together Foundation for their meaningful gift of headphones. They will be put to immediate good use for our students and clients, who will have more comfortable and productive experiences, thanks to their generosity."
