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School Crashers

School Crashers is our facility makeover program that unites communities, media partners, donors and volunteers to complete improvement projects for deserving schools.

Transforming Schools, One Makeover at a Time

For more than a decade, Georgia United Foundation's School Crashers program has been transforming learning environments across Georgia. Every year, we select multiple schools for much-needed improvement projects. Thanks to the generous support of local businesses and dedicated community volunteers, this program has impacted 86 deserving schools, investing over $3.1 million in improvements—and we're just getting started!

This year, five schools were selected from 249 applicants. Check out the schools who were "crashed" over summer break... And stay tuned for 2027 online applications opening in mid-December.

Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy

Dalton, Georgia

Serving students from across Whitfield County, Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy (NWGCCA) is a center for innovative learning and career readiness. Through updated furniture and flooring, the Media Center was transformed into a modern, versatile space that better supports students, staff, and community events.

Snapfinger Elementary School

Decatur, Georgia

Snapfinger Elementary School transformed an underutilized STEM lab into a vibrant hub for hands-on learning. With new flooring, fresh paint, and modern furniture, the redesigned space inspires curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving while providing students with greater opportunities to explore STEM concepts.

Duncan Creek Elementary School

Hoschton, Georgia

Duncan Creek Elementary's PTA recognized the growing need for social-emotional learning resources and nominated the school for a School Crashers makeover. What began as a small sensory area created with donated items has been transformed into a thoughtfully designed sensory room, providing students with a safe, calming space to regulate emotions, build readiness to learn, and thrive in the classroom.

West Chatham Elementary School

Pooler, Georgia

Nominated by a principal dedicated to student well-being, this Pooler elementary school transformed an unused room into a calming sensory space through School Crashers. Equipped with flexible seating, sensory tools, and soothing features, the room provides students with a supportive environment to regulate emotions, reduce stress, and return to the classroom ready to learn.

Shoal Creek Elementary School

Conyers, Georgia

Recognizing the importance of social-emotional learning, Shoal Creek Elementary's principal and parent liaison sought to enhance the school's existing sensory room through School Crashers. With updated furnishings, calming colors, warm lighting, and sensory equipment, the revitalized space now provides students with a welcoming environment to regulate emotions, refocus, and return to learning ready to thrive.

Our Impact So Far

Awarded

86
School Crashers grants

Invested

$ 3.1
Million
towards enhancing educational spaces in local schools

Impacted

62,491
students who now enjoy a better learning environment
School Crashers Donors
“
School Crashers has validated the worth of every student who walks through these doors. By investing your resources into the media center, you sent a powerful message directly to our kids: You matter. Your education matters. Your dreams deserve the very best.
- Tippi C., Media Specialist, Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
“
We are so grateful to Georgia United School Crashers for transforming our storage room into an amazing and beautiful parent and student resource room. The space will give our families the tools they need to help student succeed at home and in the classroom. Thank you so much for investing in our kids and our community! We appreciate it!
- Ashley W., Instructional Coach, NW Laurens Elementary
“
When I see the new (Clarkston High School) Media Center I see something conducive to learning, reading, and boosting morale. Most importantly this space will strengthen our partnerships with our communities and families.
- Elijah P., Chief of Staff, DeKalb County School District
“
Words could never express how amazing it feels to enter our renovated spaces. The difference between the before and afters is like night and day. The faculty, staff and students were totally shocked by the upgrades provided through the School Crashers Grant from Georgia United Foundation and program sponsors. I am a 23 year educator in the Dekalb County School District. This by far is the best thing that has ever happened to me as an employee. We cannot thank you enough for choosing us for this unique opportunity. The Salem Middle School family is eternally grateful.
- Tiffanie B., Head Counselor, Salem Middle School
“
What an amazing program! Thank you to all the School Crashers contributors for making our newly created faculty recharge room a reality for the staff at Windsor Forest Elementary School. The staff looks forward to recharging here to focus on increasing student motivation and achievement.
- Dr. Trikia G., Principal, Windsor Forest Elementary School
“
WOWSA! What a remarkable transformation! Thank you for bringing our vision to fruition! Beyond all expectations! We can’t wait to restore and recharge with our new space. With heartfelt gratitude.
- Barbara S., First Grade Teacher DLI, Windsor Forest Elementary School
“
Thank you! I do not have enough words to express my gratitude to Georgia United Foundation's School Crashers. I am overwhelmed with joy and indeed grateful for the total transformation of the teachers’ lounge at Salem Middle School. The lounge is inviting and relaxing, and it provides the teachers a space to RECHARGE! Thank you for selecting our proposal and making some much-needed improvements for our teachers at Salem Middle School.
- Dr. Lisa M., Executive Administrator, DeKalb County School District
“
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer a sensory room for students of all ages and abilities. Students who need a break to regroup and refocus will have a dedicated and private space to work through their feelings and emotions. The sensory room created by Georgia United Foundation offers students multiple methods of re-centering and regulating their minds and bodies. Calm minds and bodies are necessities for academic and social learning to occur. The sensory room gives students a place to go to get regulated so they can get back to class and move on with their learning.
- Jennifer W., Principal, High Shoals Elementary School
“
Our students with sensory needs now have a space where their needs can be met. Previously when our students needed a "brain break" we would go for walks or spend time in an empty space, this often left our students coming back into class with a lot of energy. This room will provide them with the tools they need to be successful for the rest of their day and this room will serve as another resource that teachers can utilize when they see a student struggling in the classroom. This program is super important because it immediately serves a specific need in the community. We were able to start our project at the end of May and were able to complete it by the end of July.
- Megan S., Special Education Interrelated Teacher, High Shoals Elementary School
“
Our staff will be positively affected by having a truly comfortable space where they can take a mindful break. School Crashers has truly been a blessing to our school. As educators, we often put ourselves 2nd and forget that we also must take care of ourselves or we're not providing the best services to our students. School Crashers has provided us with a space that we otherwise would not be able to have. We cannot thank Georgia United Foundation and their volunteers enough.
- Lindsay K., School Counselor, Cass Middle School
“
Having the students primed and ready for learning makes the job of every teacher more successful. The sensory room offers teachers an effective intervention for their students. In addition, sometimes adults need a space to calm and recharge. We already find ourselves fully utilizing this amazing space!
- Melissa D., Assistant Principal, Burnette Elementary School
“
Since our school was crashed, there have been SO many classes using the courtyard! We love it!!! And we're trying to get each grade level to take "ownership" of a space in the courtyard so they are going to help maintain it. It's so perfect for our school!!! Fits perfectly with our STEM focus.
- Julie F., Teacher, Brookwood Elementary School
“
We are beyond excited for our students at New Hope Middle School to experience the new sensory room provided to us through the Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers grant. This unique classroom environment will enable a special population of our students to have their sensory needs met in various ways allowing for optimal success in the academic classrooms and fostering positive relationships with their peers. We are on the countdown to the first day of school and can not wait to let our students see our new sensory room!
- Belinda S., Principal, New Hope Middle School

Georgia United Credit Union Awards DeKalb County’s Snapfinger Elementary 2026 School Crashers Grant

Mar 19, 2026

DECATUR, GA (March 16, 2026) – Imagine you are an elementary student who learns best by doing. You are curious and eager to build and explore, but most days, STEM learning happens at a desk instead of through experience. Your teachers are passionate and engaging, but without a space built for hands-on exploration, it’s hard to fully bring to life the concepts you’re learning. A dedicated STEM classroom changes that. It’s a space designated for hands-on experiments, teamwork and collaboration where you work with your classmates to solve problems together. With accessible materials and flexible spaces, you now can engage deeply with science, technology, engineering and math. With the right tools and environment, high-quality STEM education is within reach.

Science Academic Coach Imen Edmond strongly believes that her students deserve a Georgia United School Crashers makeover, because Snapfinger Elementary’s students have made strong, intentional gains in science achievement through focused instruction and data-driven practices over the last few years.  In her impact statement, Ms. Edmond writes: “Our students are ready for the next level of learning, and our spaces need to catch up to their potential.  We are poised to build on that success by transforming our learning environments to support deeper engagement across science, math, literacy, and problem solving. Students learn best when they can move, collaborate, explore, and create. Unfortunately, our current science learning area has not been updated in years and does not fully support hands-on investigation, teamwork, or flexible learning. For our Title I students, this limits access to the interactive, experiential, and wellness-centered learning opportunities that help them thrive.”

Ms. Edmond proposes a “'Snappy 21st Century Learning Environment Update' that will transform underutilized spaces into vibrant STEM learning environments. Flexible seating and refreshed science lab areas will promote curiosity, collaboration, and project-based learning aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. A new STEM Classroom will extend learning beyond four walls, encouraging exploration, movement, and nature-based inquiry while supporting students’ social-emotional growth. While our budget is limited, our commitment is limitless. With the help of School Crashers volunteers and community partners, this makeover will create welcoming, high-impact spaces where students feel inspired, supported, and excited to learn every day.”

Thanks to Ms. Edmond’s 250-word nomination and a photo of their science lab which has had minimal changes since 1966, Snapfinger Elementary earned one of five coveted Georgia United School Crashers projects scheduled for this summer.

Georgia United Credit Union CEO Laura King said, “We are looking forward to serving our communities and strengthening our school systems through our thirteenth annual School Crashers program. This program is made possible by the Georgia United Foundation, credit union team members, generous donors, community partners and volunteers. We are especially excited about the Snapfinger Elementary project in DeKalb County, as we have four branch locations in DeKalb, so we anticipate good volunteer support to transform this underutilized classroom into something special for the students.”

Whenever members use Georgia United for a car loan, home loan or checking account, a part of those funds are given back to the community through scholarships, financial education or through programs like School Crashers that deliver inspiring learning spaces that strengthen schools. By the end of the summer, School Crashers improvements will have impacted a total of 86 schools with improvement estimated at over $3.2 million since 2014.

Today’s announcement took place at the school, where Principal Karen Stancil was attending a DCSD principals’ meeting with Interim Superintendent Dr. Norman Sauce III, so there were a large number of county school administrators in the building.  Principal Stancil expressed her gratitude to her science team for nominating Snapfinger, “My school and I are beyond honored that we were selected from hundreds of applications, and our students are going to benefit from a fresh, new STEM learning environment.” Following this morning’s announcement at the school, Georgia United’s community development representatives met with the school to begin setting priorities and planning everything from paint and flooring to equipment and comfortable seating. All facility upgrades to the space will be administered during summer break to ensure that regular instruction is not impacted. The new STEM Classroom is scheduled to be ready for students and faculty to use by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Funding for School Crashers is made possible by Georgia United Credit Union, Georgia United Foundation and generous community partners and volunteers. To contribute, visit gucufoundation.org/donate. To explore past School Crashers projects and see additional 2026 recipients as they're announced throughout March, visit gucufoundation.org/schoolcrashers.