In May of 2023, Jane’s Fund donated over 800 laptops to graduating seniors at West Charlotte, West Mecklenburg and Harding High Schools involved with GenOne and Carolina Youth Coalition on “Decision Day”, celebrating their plans for secondary education.

Seniors give school-issued laptops back at the end of the school year and were headed to college without a computer of their own! This program helps set them up for success in their next chapter.

With your help, we will continue this program over the next 3-5 years.

• Purchase one computer for one senior (HP Chromebook): $250

• Purchase computers for a whole senior math class: $7,500

• Purchase all computers for one high school: $80,000

Renaissance West STEAM Academy encourages middle school students to try new skills as they choose enrichment classes, with a particular focus on growing the band program.

Starting with just two students in band two years ago, they now have full 7th and 8th grade classes and a waiting list of 30 kids excited to join the enrichment. One problem: for every student to experience the full benefit of band class, they needed more instruments. 

Help make this school alive with the sound of music:

• Purchase a Yamaha Clarinet (Need 14 total): $1,198 ea ($16,772 for all)

• Purchase a Jupiter Flute (Need 12 total): $1,164 ea ($13,968 for all)

• Purchase a Yamaha Trombone (Need 8 total): $1,977 ea ($15,816 for all)

• Purchase a Yamaha Trumpet (Need 12 total): $1,577 ea ($18,924 for all)

• Fund all new instruments for RenWest’s band program: $65,480

QC Scholars provides unique residential experiences to high-achieving, under-resourced public high school students, preparing them to sucessully apply to, succeed in and graduate from four-year colleges and universities.

The program provides a residential summer program for three consecutive summers including college trips, academic enrichment, SAT/ACT prep, 1-on-1 college counseling, college application curriculum and more!

Jane’s Fund is proud to support the growth of this initiative in our community, and has sponsored two scholars at West Charlotte, Harding and Garringer High Schools, each, for two years.

sponsor one scholar for one year: $4,500

sponsor two years of scholars at one school: $18,000

sponsor all six scholar spots for two years: $54,000

HEART Math Tutoring gives young students successful experiences in math through one-on-one, volunteer-delivered tutoring during the school day. This year, they wanted to try a pilot program that increased the frequency of tutoring for elementary-aged students, with a goal of sending them to middle school on grade level in math.

Jane's Fund is always excited to help organizations we love try something new, giving the gift of a runway to explore and grow, without the obstacle of finances. Jane's Fund partnered with HEART, funding a new position which placed a full time employee on site at Merry Oaks Elementary, working with students all day long, particularly small groups of 4th-5th graders.

Emily Gaffney, Executive Director of HEART shared, "Today, this pilot is one of the things our staff leaders and board are the most excited about. Multiple additional schools have expressed interest in this version of Heart Math Tutoring’s program, and our hope is to expand it to 3-4 sites next year....Your grant gave us courage and opportunity to prioritize depth of impact over breadth."

• Full-time, on-site school tutoring coordinator: $40,000

Greater Enrichment Program is an incredible resource serving five local schools. Their mission is to provide an educational program and out-of-the-box opportunities for children, regardless of background and ability.

In addition to hosting the Jane Harrell Lacrosse Clinics, Jane’s Fund was able to purchase two brand new 15-passenger vans for Greater Enrichment Program, to assist with transporting children from school and to activities.

• Purchase two 15-passenger vans for GEP: $201,000

We know that learning that takes place outside the classroom brings a myriad of benefits to young students. Jane’s Fund has worked with several Charlotte schools to facilitate adventures in independence and learning without walls. Help make these experiences possible for K-8 students:

• Deposit for a trip to DC for one 8th grade student: $250

• Transportation to and from the Whitewater Center for Middle School Students: $2,500

• Field Trip to Camp Thunderbird for 120 Lower Schoolers: $10,000

• Field Trip to Discovery Place for 60 Lower Schoolers: $3,000

As part of a behavioral and social/emotional health plan at RenWest, school administrators created a point system and reward store for students.

Throughout the school year, students earn “cash” for positive behavior and academic success. Ultimately, they will have the opportunity to shop for the prize of their choice (anything from stickers to basketballs) with the coupons they’ve earned.

The program was a huge success in its inaugural year, giving children the autonomy to choose their own prize and the pride of earning it themselves. Jane’s Fund has been able to fund the program two years in a row.

• Provide incentives for 15 students: $200

• Launch a School Store: $1,500 

• Maintain the behavior reward closet for a school year: $2,500

• Volunteer at a school store: Contact lauren@shinelikejane.org

Though uniforms are required, more than half of the students do not have one, creating insecurity and preventing them from being their “best selves.” Help break down barriers to learning by giving students confidence to start their day on track with a school uniform.

• Pair of khaki pants and collared white shirt: $20

• Dress a lunch table of girls: $160

• Upfit a Kindergarten class: $400

• Dress the fifth grade: $1500

Celebrate teachers and students with improved test scores at an ice cream party. 

• Ice cream truck at recess: $1,100

Motivate and encourage teachers to keep showing up to school to share their gifts with K-8 students in a FIRST-EVER teacher appreciation lunch. Show gratitude and recognize the unsung heroes. 

• Catered lunch on site (130 teachers): $860

• Gift Cards (Target) for Teachers: $1,300

Thomasboro Elementary principal, Rolando Parkins, said he has always dreamed of re-doing the school’s outdoor space, to make it a more interactive and fun place for students to play.

Jane’s Fund partnered with the Providence Day football team to do just that. PD’s football players came together to spend a whole day fixing up the place! They spread mulch, painted four square and hopscotch and even added lines to create a basketball court on their blacktop.

Jane’s Fund hopes to bring our community together to Shine Like Jane and will be forever grateful to the PD players for being our very first example of exactly that!

purchase mulch for the playground project: $1,200

purchase game stencils for the blacktop: $3,000