Excellence in education and academic achievement impacts the overall quality of life of individuals and communities. To this end, the Stark Foundation provided grants totaling more than $500,000 in 2007 to educational organizations, including grants to participating Orange County high schools for the purpose of supplementing budgets for UIL activities and events to encourage increased involvement in such academic endeavors, as well as grants for training programs at the collegiate and technological levels. The Foundation also funded more than $200,000 in scholarships through the Texas Interscholastic Foundation in 2007 as part of a multi-year commitment to that organization.