Educators and students got a much needed surge of funds, thanks to the A+ Education Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the $945 million A+ Federal Credit Union in Austin, Texas.

This year more than $67,000 was awarded to 74 recipients of the foundation's 2012 Educator Grant Program.

The funds cover the cost of programs, supplies, and training to improve the classroom experience for students in Central Texas, the credit union said.

This year's 74 winning submissions included a vocational and life skills program, play materials for school counseling, an outdoor classroom, reading clubs, robotics, a writer's den program, speech therapy, improving the effectiveness of teaching through technology, a social skills enrichment program, linking the school garden to academic achievement, and a motor sensory and therapy lab.

The foundation also continues to offer an Honorary Grant Program in which grants are awarded, in a name designated by contributors, in the amount of $1,000, A+ said.

This year's recipient of The Kate Loftis Memorial Education Grant, awarded on behalf of Dennis and Cindy Loftis, was Leslee L. Arredondo from Callison Elementary School in Round Rock ISD for her grant program entitled For the Love of Reading.

“We are pleased to award over $67,000 in grants. This is the eighth grant year and this year, as in previous years, educators submitted superb grant applications to enrich the teaching experience,” said Kerry Parker, president/CEO of A+ Federal “These grant funds result in added materials and programs to benefit educators, students, their campuses and communities.”