We had multiple reasons to celebrate at our annual Educator Initiative Grant Reception on Thursday, June 5! 🎉
We were thrilled to honor the 48 teams of outstanding Summit County educators that were recently awarded a 2025-2026 Educator Initiative Grant, and to celebrate the incredible legacy of Lucille Esposito, who recently retired as GAR Foundation’s EIG Program Manager.
EIG awards help fuel classroom innovation in areas like student mental wellness, media production, cultural awareness, and communication skills. We’re endlessly inspired by the passion, creativity, and commitment these educators bring to their students every day.
At the same time, we lifted up Lucille, whose decade of service has empowered hundreds of educators and shaped thousands of student experiences. Her tireless dedication has transformed the EIG program into what it is today.
To all of our EIG recipients and to Lucille - thank you for making our schools and communities stronger. 💙💚
2025-2026 EIG Award Recipients
