A Strong Start for Every Student
Dear Educate Fairfax Supporter:
As a new school year begins, I am reminded of what is possible when our community comes together around a shared belief in the potential of every FCPS student. This summer, that commitment was everywhere, from providing thousands of students with the supplies they need for a strong start to welcoming and investing in new educators.
And there is even more ahead.
We’re preparing to open another exciting year of Educator Innovation Grants and celebrating the remarkable FCPS graduates who continue to make a difference through our Alumni Hall of Fame.
In this month’s newsletter, I invite you to see the impact you helped make possible and discover new ways to join us as we work to ensure every FCPS student has a path to success.
We encourage you to follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter), where we share the stories of our grant recipients, along with other inspiring news about what's happening to improve educational outcomes across our school division.
Warm wishes,
Dr. Lynette Henry
Executive Director
Educate Fairfax
A Strong Start Begins with Our Community
 Before the final bell rang on the 2025–2026 school year, our community was already looking ahead.
With 1 in 3 Fairfax County Public Schools students experiencing financial hardship, we knew the work of preparing students for a successful new school year could not wait.
That’s why our Supplies for Success campaign began before summer even started, giving our community more time to come together and help ensure every student could start the year ready to learn.
And once again, our community answered the call.
This school year, thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate donors, summer interns, and community partners, Educate Fairfax has provided more than 5,400 school supply kits to students across 90+ FCPS schools, including at least 35 Title I schools.
We are grateful to REACH in US, the Doris Harwitz Trust, SaNDAI Cares, Canterbury Woods C-Serpents, SEWA USA, NOVA Community Church, Amazon, Walmart, the Irene Rosenbaum Memorial Fund, Capital One, Kaiser Permanente, Mansion House Swim Team, Mahan Hope Foundation, Lockheed Martin, and all who helped make this effort possible.
Campus Survival Kits helped lower the cost of supplies, allowing every donor dollar to stretch further and reach more students.
A special thank you goes to our longtime partner Guernsey, which helped turn that generosity into action by delivering nearly 3,000 school supply kits directly to more than 61 FCPS schools. Guernsey continues to be a committed sponsor and partner of Educate Fairfax and FCPS, helping us get critical resources where they are needed most.
We also recognize the Doris Harwitz Trust, administered by John Jackson, Trustee. The Trust carries forward the legacy of Doris A. Harwitz, a fifth-grade teacher at Pimmit Hills Elementary School and the McLean Jaycees’ 1978 Outstanding Young Educator. Her dedication to FCPS lives on through support for teacher grants, classroom resources, and school supplies.
Behind every number is a student who can walk into the classroom feeling prepared and confident, and a family that can focus on the excitement of a new school year instead of the cost of supplies.
A backpack filled with school supplies may seem simple, but for a student, it can mean beginning the year feeling prepared, included, and ready to learn.
Thank you for turning generosity into opportunity, believing in our students, and helping ensure every FCPS student has a strong start and a path to success.
5,400+ kits. 90+ schools. 35+ Title I schools.
Amazon Employees Pack 215+ Kits for FCPS Students
As part of our summer-long Supplies for Success campaign, community partners stepped up in meaningful ways to help ensure FCPS students started the school year prepared and ready to learn.
One of those partners was Amazon. Employees recently gathered at a local facility for Amazon Community Day and helped turn supplies donated by Amazon into more than 215 student kits in just over an hour!
The impact was immediate.
Those kits were distributed directly to five FCPS schools, putting essential supplies into the hands of students who needed them before the first day of school.
Thank you, Amazon, for supporting Supplies for Success and for believing in FCPS students and their future!
Great Beginnings Start with Great Educators
Before students returned to classrooms this fall, Fairfax County Public Schools welcomed novice educators and veteran teachers new to the division for the 2026 Great Beginnings Summer Institute (GBSI) at Fairfax High School.
Educate Fairfax was proud to sponsor this four-day professional learning experience, which helps new FCPS educators build connections, strengthen their skills, and prepare for a successful start to the school year.
Our support of Great Beginnings was made possible through the generosity of our annual corporate partner, Apple Federal Credit Union, whose commitment to public education helps us invest in the people who make a difference for FCPS students every day.
When we support educators from the very beginning, we are investing in every student they will inspire, teach, and empower throughout the year.
Thank you, Apple Federal Credit Union, for partnering with Educate Fairfax to help FCPS educators and their students thrive!
Click on the image above to watch the video, or click here.
Last Chance to Nominate an Inspiring FCPS Alum
Time is running out to recognize an extraordinary Fairfax County Public Schools graduate.
Nominations for the 5th Annual FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame close on Aug. 31. If you know an FCPS alum whose achievements, leadership, or service have made a lasting impact, now is the time to share their story.
For more than 150 years, FCPS has prepared students to make a difference in their communities and around the world. The Alumni Hall of Fame celebrates graduates who exemplify the power of public education through their accomplishments in fields such as business, education, public service, the arts, science, technology, health care, athletics, and beyond.
Whether they graduated five years ago or 50 years ago, every inspiring story deserves to be celebrated.
Nominees must have graduated from an FCPS high school at least five years ago and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and service to others.
Don’t miss the opportunity to help honor an alumnus who continues to inspire future generations.
Nominations are open through Aug. 31, 2026.
Submit a nomination today.
Calling All FCPS Educators: Bring Your Big Idea to Life
FCPS Educators: Have an idea that could spark curiosity, build confidence, or create a new opportunity for your students? Keep an eye out! Educator Innovation Grant applications open on September 3, 2026.
Formerly known as Educate Fairfax Grants, Educator Innovation Grants provide FCPS educators with funding to transform creative ideas into meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.
Last year was a record breaking grant cycle for Educate Fairfax. We awarded 129 grants totaling more than $210,000 across 117 schools, helping bring innovative learning opportunities to nearly 47,000 FCPS students.
Now, it’s your turn to dream big.
Could your idea help make this year’s grant cycle our biggest yet? Start thinking about what you could bring to life for your students and watch for applications to open on September 3rd.
See Educator Innovation Grants in action and get inspired.
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