Thousands of kids are already in or heading back to school with a great deal of excitement. Teachers and schools are looking for ways to ensure their students have enriching, relevant and engaging opportunities. Recent studies show teachers are spending more out of pocket for classroom needs than ever before.

To help reduce that burden, Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric will give away $5,000 to a local school program through its Caring Community Giveaway. The nominated organizations for this “back-to-school” quarter include Colorado Uplift, Denver Public Schools Foundation A to Z Fund and JEFFCO Kids Eat Free.

According to AdoptAClassroom.org, teachers spent an average of $750 of their own money during the school year so their students can succeed. Teacher spending has increased 25% since 2015 and 95% of teachers said their supply budget will not be enough to meet their students’ needs.

“We want to be sure teachers and schools have all the resources our children need to be successful,” said Josh Ward, owner of Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. “We all have a vested interest in the education of our future generations.”

The community will be given the opportunity to vote on the featured nonprofits to choose the winner. To vote, visit Applewood’s Facebook or website from August 20 through September 3, 2021. Following the voting period, the nonprofit with the most votes will receive the $5,000 donation. Learn more about the following selected programs below:

Denver Public Schools Foundation A to Z Fund 
With tight budgets, schools need to make tough choices. The DPS Foundation A to Z Fund has funded more than 1,500 classroom grants that have provided funds for athletic equipment, educational materials, competition fees, field trips and other resources to enrich classroom learning and experiences.

Colorado UpLift 
For three decades Colorado UpLift has been transforming the lives of urban students with a graduation success rate of 90%. Students in the program have access to mentors and year-round programming from in- and after-school, adventure, post-secondary and advanced leadership opportunities.

JEFFCO Kids Eat Free Program 
It’s no secret that good nutrition helps a student’s ability to focus and learn. The Jeffco Kids Eat Free Program ensures all enrolled students have access to breakfast and/or lunch meals at no cost.

Applewood’s Caring Community Giveaway has donated more than $200,000 to local nonprofits in the Denver-metro area in the program’s more than 16 years of existence. To learn more about Applewood and their community outreach, visit Community Giveaway.