The Addition Financial Foundation has been awarded the 2026 Executive Award of Regional Significance, a top honor in the East Central Florida Diamond Awards, for its Renovate to Educate program—an initiative that has already made a meaningful impact in Lake County schools.

The Diamond Awards, presented by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, recognize outstanding projects that strengthen communities across an eight-county region through innovation, collaboration and long-term benefit.

Renovate to Educate originally launched as a classroom makeover program but has since expanded to focus on transforming “needs spaces”—dedicated rooms in public schools that offer food, clothing, hygiene products and other essentials for homeless and low-income students.

The program now serves schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties, where the need for these spaces continues to grow. Local district data shows more than 15,000 students across the region are experiencing homelessness, with tens of thousands more considered low-income.

In Lake County, Renovate to Educate made headlines earlier this year when Leesburg Elementary was selected as one of just four schools in Central Florida to receive a full renovation. The school, which supports a large population of homeless and unhoused children, will have its donation pantry redesigned this summer into a more welcoming and organized needs space.

Cristina Lehman, executive director of the Addition Financial Foundation, said the shift in focus allows the program to serve more families in deeper, more meaningful ways.

“Our Foundation board is proud of the 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,” Cristina says.

ECFRPC Executive Director Tara McCue, a former educator, said the program stood out among this year’s award submissions for the breadth of its reach and the dignity it brings to students facing hardship.

“Homelessness and poverty can have a devastating impact on students at such a critical point in their lives,” Tara says. “We must ensure they have the tools and opportunities to succeed, and this program does exactly that.”

Each renovation is a collaborative effort involving Seminole State College’s interior design program, school leadership and dozens of Addition Financial Credit Union volunteers. The final result is a completely redesigned, fully stocked space tailored to the needs of each school community.

This year marks the program’s most expansive reach yet, with needs-space renovations scheduled at four schools—one in each partner county. Lake County’s participation continues a long-standing relationship between Addition Financial and local educators, including its annual recognition of a Lake County teacher through the Renovate to Educate Teacher Award.

Cristina says the Diamond Award is an honor, but the true reward is seeing the impact on students’ lives.

“Every renovated space represents a child who can walk into school with less worry and can focus more on learning,” she says. “We look forward to continuing to support local schools and students through Renovate to Educate.”

The Addition Financial Foundation will be recognized at the 2026 Diamond Awards luncheon on Feb. 25 in New Smyrna Beach.