Leesburg Elementary School is set to receive a transformative makeover this summer as one of four Central Florida schools selected for the Addition Financial Foundation’s 2025 Renovate to Educate program. The initiative, which has traditionally focused on classroom renovations, is shifting its mission this year to enhancing essential “needs spaces” — dedicated areas that provide food, clothing, and supplies for students and families facing hardship.

Leesburg Elementary, which serves a significant population of homeless and unhoused children, will see its donation pantry reimagined into a more welcoming and organized environment. While the school has done an exceptional job collecting donations from community partners, the existing space is in need of structure and design to better serve its students.

“Our Foundation board is proud of work the Renovate to Educate program has done transforming teachers’ classrooms over the years, but we believe we can make an even deeper impact now for more students and families by helping them meet some truly fundamental needs,” said Cristina Lehman, Executive Director of the Addition Financial Foundation. “By focusing on ‘needs spaces,’ we aim to support the entire school community and ensure that every student has access to essential resources.”

To bring this vision to life, Addition Financial Credit Union is teaming up with interior design interns from Seminole State College. Over the summer, they’ll work together to redesign the space and fully stock it with essential items, ensuring it’s ready to support students at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

This marks a pivotal year for the Renovate to Educate program, as it expands its impact beyond individual classrooms to support the broader school community. The “needs spaces” concept was developed in collaboration with local school district partners to help address basic needs among students — including food insecurity and lack of access to hygiene products and clothing.

Leesburg Elementary will be joined by three other schools receiving similar makeovers: Engelwood Elementary in Orange County, Lakeview Elementary in Osceola County, and Millennium Middle School in Seminole County. All four will host dramatic reveal events just before the new school year begins.

The Foundation will also fully stock the rooms with food and supplies. The goal is to have the new ‘needs spaces’ ready for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, providing a fresh and supportive environment for students and families in need.

Photos provided by Addition Financial