A Parker Explorers: Celebrating 30 Years of Curiosity-Driven Learning
April 1, 2022
 This spring, Parker will celebrate our 30th Anniversary as a school with our spring Benefit, Parker Explorers: Celebrating 30 years of curiosity-driven learning. With so many new families in our community, we wanted to take a moment to highlight what this Benefit means to our school, and ask that you consider supporting our efforts by joining the Honorary Committee. This year’s Honorary Committee will be co-chaired by Meg Taylor and Susie Merrett. Meg and Susie both have an incredibly long history of leadership and service at Parker, which you can read more about by clicking HERE. We are honored that they have agreed to join us in this exciting effort to raise money in support of Parker Play Spaces, a campaign to build new and improve existing play structures throughout our campus. Please read on to learn more about our Benefit. You may click on the link here or at the bottom of this email to join our Honorary Committee today! |
What is the purpose of the Spring Benefit? Our spring Benefit enables us to raise targeted funds to be put towards special projects or initiatives. While our Annual Fund helps us to close the budget gap between tuition collected and the expense of daily operations, our Benefit allows us to realize goals that will enhance programming and student experiences.This year, all funds raised from our Benefit will be dedicated to “Parker Play Spaces”, our campaign to build and enhance key structures and spaces around campus. Projects slated for completion in 2022 include building a yurt for our Forest Toddlers and PreK, building a new PreK playground, remodeling our shed to convert it to a woodworking shop, furnishing our new Makerspace, and making key upgrades to our school gym. |
Who is the Benefit for? EVERYONE! Our spring Benefit is an annual opportunity to gather our community school-wide in celebration of Parker. In a typical year, we celebrate in-person with adults by gathering to share drinks, dinner, and a night of auction-bidding and entertainment. While we are eager to return to this tradition (hopefully next year!), our virtual Benefit offers the opportunity to also include long-distance community members and our students in this fun tradition. Last year, we were amazed by the outpouring of warmth, enthusiasm, and connection generated by our virtual Benefit, and we are eagerly anticipating the same experience this year. |
What happens at a virtual Benefit? Our virtual Benefit is a one-hour evening of entertainment and togetherness that celebrates our students and community. The Benefit will be hosted by two Parker students, who will lead us through a program featuring class videos, musical performances, a live raffle, and more. Special videos highlighting unique projects in each classroom will be presented, and there will be a chance to win donated prizes. Most local families who attend our Benefit also opt to purchase a meal bag from Syrian Delights, a local catering company run by the families of several current Parker students. |
What is the Honorary Committee and why should I join? Our Honorary Committee is an opportunity to express pride in our school and to support the work that everyone — children, faculty and administrators — does every day. Gathering donors for our Honorary Committee is a key component of fundraising for our spring Benefit. Donations from committee membership represent a majority portion of funds raised and ensure that we can plan a fiscally responsible and successful event. Members of our Honorary Committee will receive a Zoom code to the Benefit, listings in the invitation and the evening’s program, and a special acknowledgement in our annual giving report. They will also receive (or can donate) a meal bag from Syrian Delights on the night of the event. |
