What 2,000 Kits Really Mean for Students This Summer 

At our third annual Think Together, Build Together event in Santa Ana, donors, volunteers, and partners came together with one goal: get students what they need for a strong summer. 

Together, we worked toward funding and assembling 2,000 classroom kits that will be used across Think Summer programs statewide. 

100 volunteers joined us, alongside partners like the Assistance League of Tustin, Orange and Villa Park NCL, Santa Ana Rotary, University Synagogue, Topgolf, Pioneer Circuits, RMH Dancing, Pacific Life, State Farm, and Trinity United Presbyterian Church. 

“It’s important to give back and help organizations like Think Together,” said Karl, a volunteer from Pacific Life. “They need our help, and by coming together for events like today, we’re helping impact thousands of students.”  

But the main story is what happens next. 

Last summer, more than 26,000 students participated in Think Together programs across 270 school sites. 

For many students, summer is a time when progress can stall or slip, especially in math and early reading, making the start of the school year that much harder. These kits help change that. 

“Summer learning plays a critical role in helping students maintain momentum,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “These kits help ensure students return to school ready to learn, not needing to catch up.” 

We know that when students stay engaged over the summer, they come back more confident, more prepared, and ready for what’s next. 

And that starts with something as simple as having the right materials in their hands.