#USA #Miami #2025 Awards #Building Hope #charter schools

Building Hope Unveils 2025 IMPACT Awards Winners

On March 26, 2025, Building Hope, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing charter school facilities and services, announced the twelve winners of its fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Awards. This event highlights schools that have made exceptional contributions to community engagement, educational innovation, student empowerment, and leadership within the charter school sector across the United States.

With a total of $160,000 in grants distributed among the winners, this year's program features various award categories aimed at celebrating schools that embody transformative educational practices. Each category showcases three exemplary charter schools demonstrating the potential of education to uplift students and communities.

Award Categories and Winners

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

Building Hope’s President and CEO, William D. Hansen, expressed pride in recognizing these extraordinary schools. He noted, "These schools demonstrate the powerful impact that quality education has on the lives of students. We are honored to support these twelve remarkable institutions and to celebrate their commitment to educational excellence and community engagement."

A Gathering of Inspiration

The grant recipients will gather during Building Hope’s forthcoming IMPACT Summit, scheduled for May 6-7, 2025, in Miami. This summit will serve as a platform for the awardees to share inspiring stories about their educational practices and to learn more about their grants. The event is expected to attract charter school leaders from across the nation, fostering a collaborative environment to explore innovative approaches in education.

Sherilyn Moore, Chief Impact Officer and Chair of the IMPACT Selection Committee, expressed her admiration for this year's winners. "These inspiring models of education, led by dedicated leaders, are beacons of hope for the future of schooling," she remarked.

The IMPACT Summit will also acknowledge the generous support of various sponsors, including title sponsor American Student Assistance and others across different sponsorship tiers. These partnerships highlight the community's collective commitment to advancing educational opportunities for all students.

About Building Hope

Established to transform educational landscapes, Building Hope is a national nonprofit that focuses on enhancing charter school facilities through innovative financing and real estate development. With over two decades of experience, Building Hope has contributed to the development of school facilities valued at over $1 billion. By providing essential resources and services, the organization aims to ensure that no child is hindered by inadequate facilities in accessing quality education. For more information about Building Hope and its initiatives, visit www.buildinghope.org.

Whether you are a school leader, educator, or stakeholder in the community, the IMPACT Awards reflect a shared commitment to cultivating excellent educational environments that foster thriving students and empowered communities.