Adirondack Academy and HFM Career and Technical Education (CTE) were recently awarded $500 donations by the 2023-2024 Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match program.
From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, Stewart’s customers donated over $1 million to the program. Each individual donation was then matched penny for penny by Stewart’s Shops. More than $2 million was allocated this year to non-profit organizations impacting children across 32 counties in upstate New York and southern Vermont where Stewart’s Shops are located.
The donation to Adirondack Academy will allow school officials to purchase items for the school store. Students participate in a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program and earn points throughout the school year for exhibiting good behavior and for positive academic referrals. They can then redeem their earned points at the school store for food items, beverages, snacks, gift cards and more.
Maureen Jones, a special education teacher with Adirondack Academy, said that Stewart’s Shops is a convenient stop for students enrolled at Adirondack Academy.
“We’re thrilled to be selected once again as a recipient of Holiday Match funds,” said Jones. “Stewart’s is a place that our students love to frequent and can get to quite easily as there are several locations in our area.”
Adirondack Academy was specifically designed to help students who have encountered obstacles in the regular school setting. The alternative education program emphasizes small class sizes and close relationships with teachers, staff and administrators in order to build a sense of community.
The donation to HFM CTE will be earmarked for student scholarships which will be awarded later this academic year to students who exhibit hard work, dedication, and a positive mindset.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Stewart’s Shops,” said Kristina Marshall, Administrative Coordinator of HFM CTE. “These funds will have a positive impact on a number of our students.
According to the Stewart’s Shops website, “Sharing is a fundamental part of the Stewart’s Shops culture and we are proud to match our customers’ incredible generosity.”
The Stewart’s Holiday Match program has now allocated more than $38 million since the program’s inception in 1986.
