BUILDING HOPE ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS

12 Charter Schools from Nine States Recognized for Excellence in Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and Leadership

$160,000 in Grants to be Awarded at Nonprofit's IMPACT Summit Awards Gala in Miami on May 7 

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building Hope, the non-profit leader in charter school facilities, financing, and services, has unveiled the twelve winners of the fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Awards. These schools have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the charter school community across the nation. Each of the four award categories—Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and the S. Joseph Bruno Model Charter Award—features three outstanding public charter schools that demonstrate the transformative power of education to change lives and communities. In total, $160,000 in grants will be awarded, including one $20,000 grant and two $10,000 grants in each of the four categories, on May 7, 2025, in Miami.

"We are proud to announce our fourth cohort of exceptional charter schools which demonstrate the powerful impact great education has on the lives of students," said Building Hope President and CEO William D. Hansen. "Building Hope is honored to support these twelve, inspirational schools and celebrate their dedication to student success, educational excellence, and community impact."

The twelve 2025 winners represent nine states:

S. Joseph Bruno Charter Leadership Award

• East Mountain High School, Sandia Park, New Mexico
• Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science, Wilson, North Carolina
• SouthTech Schools, Boynton Beach, Florida

Community Engagement Award

• Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Island Montessori, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Middleburg Community Charter School, Middleburg, Virginia

Educational Innovation Award

• Le Monde International School, Norman, Oklahoma
• Mālama Honua Public Charter School, Waimanalo, Hawaii
• Reaching All Minds Academy, Durham, North Carolina

Student Empowerment Award

• Avalon School, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
• Polaris Charter Academy, Chicago, Illinois

"These inspiring educational models with passionate, dedicated leaders are beacons of hope for the future of education," said Chief Impact Officer and Chair of the IMPACT Selection Committee Sherilyn Moore. "We are honored to shine a light on their amazing work to uplift students, families, and communities."

The IMPACT Award winners will share their unique stories and discover their grant award amounts during Building Hope's fourth annual IMPACT Summit, May 6-7, 2025, in Miami. The summit is open to charter school leaders nationwide. To register or for additional information about the IMPACT Summit, visit https://impactawards.buildinghope.org.

 Building Hope wishes to thank the sponsors of the 2025 IMPACT Summit:

Title Sponsor

• American Student Assistance

Platinum Sponsors

• PNC
• Risk Strategies

Gold Sponsors

• Dynamic Network Solutions
• Florida Charter Institute
• Raymond James
• STIFEL

Silver Sponsors

• East West Bank
• Key Construction
• National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
• UMB
• Ziegler

About Building Hope
Building Hope is a national nonprofit that empowers advancements in education through our work with charter schools providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 21-year history, Building Hope has supported over $1 billion in the development of school facilities. For more information, visit www.buildinghope.org.     

Media Contact
ShinePR for Building Hope
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SOURCE Building Hope