I'm writing to share with you a community project,
In The Sun, to create a scholarship fund for Sunshine Preschool inParker, CO.I would love to offer you the opportunity to participate in this amazing project with me.
What is In the Sun?
In the Sun came to me after talking with a friend, Lisa, who was sharing that her 4 year old daughter, Hannah, comes home from the in-home daycare that she spends 9 hours a day at saying she how bored she is every day. Hannah's behaviors have retreated to that of a two year old. Hannah attended Sunshine Pre-School last year but Lisa could not afford the combined tuition of Pre-School and before/aftercare five days a week. Lisa is a fulltime teacher, so she is sending Hannah back to in-home daycare.
I was amazed to find there are too many children, like Hannah, sitting in daycare watching TV with no intellectual stimulation or social growth available for them. Their parents are working full-time and cannot afford the combined cost of daycare and pre-school, in addition to the transportation needed during 'working hours'. This problem is greater than I had realized. The predictable future for kids like Hannah who do not have a chance for pre-school education is that these children will be entering kindergarten "behind the ball" both academically and socially.
Sunshine pre-school is really one of the only pre-schools in the Parker area that offer before and after childcare in addition to pre-school education, without the parent having to worry how to get their child to/from either. As a working mommy, I feel fortunate.
In the Sun would create a scholarship fund for the school so that students like Hannah would have the opportunity to come to Sunshine Preschool.
Why is a Scholarship Program Necessary?
We all know it is expensive to send our children to pre-school - but you cannot put a price on a child's education. Here are some of the problems that would be solved for the children receiving a scholarship through this program:
· Reduction in early diagnosis of ADD/ADHD
· Adjusting socially
· Adhering to structure
· Increased confidence coming into Kindergarten vs. coming in frustrated that everyone else 'gets it'
What are you asking me for?
I would like the scholarship fund to begin with $43,750, enough money to provide 5 scholarships to Preschoolers for one year. While that amount sounds overwhelming, it is only $240/per family - which seems more manageable. While I am not asking you to write a check for $240, I would like your support in helping to raise the money for the fund.
I have some ideas on ways to
raise the funds and I
know you have some too. I would love the opportunity to share these ideas with you, and would love for you to share your ideas with me.
Listed below are a few ideas:
- I feel like I don't know many of the other moms at the school. I think this might be a great opportunity to get to know each other. For example, my friends are willing to host a "Moms Night/Day Out" with 100% of their proceeds going to our cause;
- A cookie bake where the kids could purchase some treats;
- A book sale where each child could bring books they are done with and 'sell' them to other kids in the school with the funds going to the program - and then your child(ren) gets new books!
- A weekly reward system for our kids. Kids just love to give back and take a astonishing amount of pride in this
These are just a few of the ideas; please get involved so that you can share your ideas with me! I've seen that there are practical solutions to seemingly overwhelming problems (like our children's education), but together we can make a difference. The sense of hope and empowerment that we can give these kids will be unrecognizable.
I know together we can find a way to create a scholarship fund for Sunshine Preschool. Please contact meto share your interest; a committee meeting is plannedfor mid-March.
molly@topofmind.org