Our story began with the future in mind.

Smiling boy in red sweater reading a book while sitting on colorful woven mats.

Four smiling school children wearing glasses and white shirts posing closely together indoors.

Two smiling boys in yellow shirts holding books, one giving a thumbs-up, colorful plastic lid wall behind.

Smiling schoolgirl with braided hair sits at desk holding pencil over open notebook.

Our mission is to provide educational materials to public school students in order to inspire teachers and parents to improve their children’s educational experience.

Aprender y Crecer was created in 2006 by Price Philanthropies, the private family foundation established by retail entrepreneur and philanthropist Sol Price. The program was designed as a way to give back to the communities where PriceSmart operates. The Price family's belief that education strengthens communities is the driving force behind what we do.

Celebrating 20 years of milestones
in the Aprender y Crecer story:

2006

Aprender y Crecer makes its first donation of school and cleaning supplies.

Three volunteers wearing PriceSmart shirts stand behind tables filled with school supplies and blue sanitizer bottles.

2010

Reading books that students keep as their own become part of the annual donation.

2011

Aprender y Crecer donates over 100,000 books to eager young minds.

Smiling boy in white shirt holding and reading a colorful book outdoors with green plants background.

2018

Number of students supported annually reaches 100,000.

2018

Initiatives extend beyond the classroom and into students' homes, fostering reading as a family activity.

Teacher reading the book 'El más poderoso' to a group of attentive young students in a classroom.

2021

In response to the pandemic, Aprender y Crecer provides additional support to students and families, delivering a special package containing supplies to help them cope while at home.

2021

Aprender y Crecer launches the Vision program, bringing vision screening, eye exams and glasses to students at participating schools.

Smiling boy wearing blue shirt and eye test glasses sitting indoors with a yellow vision project banner behind.

2022

Aprender y Crecer celebrates its millionth package of school supplies.

Two women and a group of children hold up copies of a book titled "Cuentos de la tía Anancy."

2026

Twentieth anniversary of Aprender y Crecer, marking more than 1.6 million school supply packages, 3.6 million books, 171,000 vision screenings, and 38,000 pairs of glasses delivered.

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