Welcome

Supporting Students. Encouraging Educators.

Every child deserves a classroom where curiosity is encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and great teachers have the resources to help students thrive.

That's why the Union County Education Foundation exists.

We connect our community with opportunities to invest in the educators who inspire, encourage, and prepare approximately 40,000 Union County Public Schools students for the future. Find Out More.

Why Community Support Matters

Public education is one of Union County's greatest assets.

Strong schools attract families.

They prepare tomorrow's workforce.

They strengthen neighborhoods.

They create opportunities for every child.

The Union County Education Foundation gives businesses, families, churches, civic organizations, and community members meaningful ways to invest in that future.

Together, we're creating classrooms where students feel inspired and educators feel supported.

Every Story Begins with a Teacher.

Every educator has ideas that could change a student's life.

Sometimes all that's missing is the support to make those ideas possible.

A kindergarten teacher dreams of creating an outdoor classroom.

A principal wants to strengthen school culture.

An international teacher arrives in Union County with only a suitcase.

A future teacher wonders how they'll afford college.

That's where the Union County Education Foundation steps in.

Through Innovation Grants, scholarships, literacy initiatives, educator recognition, Welcome HOME, Erase the Need, and community partnerships, we help turn possibility into opportunity.

When we invest in educators, we invest in children.

The Difference You're Making

April Crabill, Western Union Elementary

My LIFT project created an accessible, inclusive playground so all kids can play!
Yaronda Kilgo, UCPS Teacher of the Year, Wingate Elementary

UCEF plays a vital role in supporting the educational community across Union County!
Elizabeth Miles, Waxhaw Elementary

The LIFT grant allowed my school to start our coding journey with robots!
Amy Erb, Stallings Elementary

The LIFT grant truly revitalized me and helped me to finish the year feeling like a success!
Wendy Hall, Fairview Elementary

Our Outdoor Exploration Club has been greatly enhanced by the funding from UCEF!
Louise Glover, Shiloh Valley Primary

Thank you Union County Education Foundation for helping meet the needs of the whole child!

5-Star Google Reviews

Mihaela Sanchez Mocanu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I am incredibly grateful to the Education Foundation for awarding us the LIFT grant, as this amazing cultural and diversity connection event for multilingual students truly wouldn't have been possible without their support. It meant the world to us that two of the foundation's board members took the time to come out to the soccer tournament and personally cheer on the students. The players were extremely excited about everything, especially the fantastic food and the opportunity to connect with one another. Thank you for investing in our students and helping us create such a memorable, inclusive experience for our community.

Sun Valley High, ESL Teacher
Emily Rhodes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐As a grateful Union County Education Foundation grant recipient, I can't say enough wonderful things about this organization. Their passion for supporting educators and empowering students is evident in everything they do. Through the Em-Powered Framework, they encourage teachers to connect, create, and collaborate in ways that lead to meaningful and lasting learning experiences for our students. The grant process was clear, encouraging, and made me feel that my ideas and my students truly mattered. Thanks to their generosity, I was able to bring opportunities to my school that will have a positive impact for years to come. The Union County Education Foundation is making a real difference in our schools, and I am incredibly thankful to be part of that impact.

Waxhaw Elementary, Music Teacher
Sharyn VonCannon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Union County Education Foundation has made an incredible impact on students and educators across our district. Through its generous GROW Grants, schools have been able to expand innovative programs like Ag-Tech, Global Studies, and hands-on science labs—creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning.

These opportunities simply wouldn’t be possible without the Foundation’s commitment to investing in our schools. Money donated directly impacts students, enriches classrooms, and helps prepare the next generation of leaders.

I wholeheartedly encourage our community to support the Union County Education Foundation. When you invest in this Foundation, you’re investing in the future of Union County and the incredible students who will one day lead it.

Unionville Elementary, Principal

Making a Difference Across Union County

We're proud of the numbers.

But we're even more proud of the lives behind them.

Nearly every Union County Public School has received an Innovation Grant, empowering educators to create engaging learning experiences that inspire students every day.

Our work reaches classrooms across the county through innovation, literacy, educator retention, and community partnerships—creating stronger schools for every child.