Education Grant WinnerAnna Sexton

Building a positive environment in schools for children is essential. Having a comforting place to go when the stress of everyday academics can serve as a pivotal tool for kids to balance it out. Not only does it provide a soothing outlet, but it allows them to develop strong friendships, collaborate, and learning new skills along the way.

Anna Sexton, educator at McNair Middle School, wanted to give her students an opportunity to be a part of a positive and inclusive space, where they would get to explore different crafting activities and enhance their social-emotional learning in the process. Thanks to Power of the Dollar® members, she was awarded a $1,000 grant in December 2025 for her “Twisted Threads – Hooked on Kindness” project idea, which she then used the grant funds to purchase a sewing machine, felt and fabric, paint, a vinyl cutting machine, paint and other craft supplies, as well as bus trips to local community nursing homes/emergency responders to help out.

“What inspired me to apply for this grant is—it was an easy application process—but I was looking to fund just a unique opportunity for our kids here at school,” said Sexton. “For them to come together, learn some new skills, be able to share those skills with other kids … I thought, what a great way to get that going at this campus.”

Her students have been having an absolute blast with the added resources. From getting acclimated with how to run fabric through the sewing machine to being meticulous in their diamond-cut designing, all while in a calm, quiet atmosphere, Ms. Sexton’s students were exploring their creativity, determined to see the challenge to the end, and actively engaged in their projects. Being supported with these resources has been a blessing to Ms. Sexton’s students, and it has given them a chance to create sustainable blueprints for additional SEL opportunities and positively impact school culture.

“I think the positive things that have come out of this is kids are coming together,” she said. “It’s not just the first few who have come to the club; they tell their friends about it, and they show up, and anyone who just walks by will come in and say, ‘Is this something that I can join?’ So, we’re just expanding an opportunity for kids to get to know each other and find a safe place to work together!”