Dear Friends,

As we prepare to close out a full year of living, learning, and surviving through a pandemic, we are grateful, proud, and more determined. Grateful for your continued friendship and belief in our mission. Proud of the work we’ve done together. And determined to create a future of equitable learning spaces and resources for all students.

In 2021, with your support, we transformed almost 60 spaces, giving learners and creators in communities across the country room to learn, discover, and thrive. We served 90,000+ students and engaged 500 volunteers safely. And we infused $1.5MM dollars in new technologies into under-resourced communities. 

While these metrics matter, they don’t convey the full impact of our work to transform learning spaces, strengthen communities and bridge the resource gap. When we show students that they matter – with refreshed spaces, new materials and enhanced technology – we enable them to reshape the stories they tell themselves, about who they are and what’s possible in their lives. Well-designed spaces cultivate self-confidence, foster creativity, and motivate achievement. At Heart of America, seeing students in these new spaces is all the motivation we need to sustain our relentless focus on equitable education for all.

We’ve learned over the past two years that there is no “return to normal” following Covid-19. Nor should there be. “Normal,” for far too many students and communities, meant a lack of basic resources for learning. As we look to the future, we are deeply committed to educational equity. Every student – no matter their zip code, skin color or their parent's income – deserves an inspiring space, equipped with the right resources, to learn and thrive.

And to truly thrive, learners need holistic support – at home, at school and in their community. At Heart of America, we can provide that broad spectrum of support because we have built a wide network of partners. 

... Partners like Young Living Foundation and Goal Zero, who partnered with us in our work in Navajo Nation to install solar panels in 100 homes so students can charge their Chromebooks, deliver education kits to 10,000 students, and transform an empty classroom to a Wellness & Mediation Room at Whitehorse High School. 

... Partners like Verizon, who provided us with the largest grant in our 24-year history. The multi-year, $10 million+ commitment by Verizon has already helped under-resourced communities bridge the digital divide. Together, we have designed and built of 50 Verizon Innovative Learning Labs since 2018. These state-of-the-art labs, include Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D printing, and thanks to our continued partnership, we plan to do 50 more in the coming year.

... Partners like Anthem, Inc. and iHeartMedia whose support allowed us to create food access spaces in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City schools. Each customized space was built with a team of designers, school renovation experts and food access specialists, and are now permanent resources to help alleviate food insecurity in the local communities.

... Partners like Barefoot Books and Mackin who have helped us ensure we provide diverse titles and culturally relevant education materials for the many communities of color we serve enabling students to see themselves reflected in the books and activities they use to learn. 

... And partners like YOU. Teachers, administrators, community leaders, donors, supporters – engaged citizens who share our commitment to equitable education for all our kids. 

Our work is done with, not for, communities because our greatest successes have always come through the power of partnership. And it is that combined power that fuels the HOA model, bringing together the time, talents, and treasure of this diverse and caring community to give strength to communities everywhere. 

Together, by transforming spaces, we’re transforming lives. 

Thank you for being a part of Heart of America and sharing our vision of a future where every student has an inspiring space equipped with the right resources to learn and thrive.

In deepest gratitude,

Jill Heath

President and CEO, Heart of America