Dear Family Members and Friends of Dragonfly School,
Dragonfly School opened its doors in the summer of 2007 as a preschool. Since then many families have joined Dragonfly, which now includes elementary students through second grade. Every family contributes to the wonderful mosaic of our school community. Our thanks to each of you. We have had tremendous success in creating a community of learners who are intelligent, capable, and kind, and in finding teachers who are committed, creative, and talented. Now our priority is to ensure the future growth of our school as we realize our mission to integrate culture, creativity, community and ecology. In order to reach this goal, we need your help. This letter marks the beginning of our third Annual Giving Campaign.
This campaign will be focused on raising funds for the following priorities, which were established by our directors and our board: continued development of our curriculum and programs; tuition assistance; staff healthcare & training; and building a long-term foundation for the school by establishing an endowment.
Annual Giving Campaigns are voluntary fundraisers where donations are tax-deductible (to the extent provided by law). We intend to reach out to our students’ parents, family members, and friends: the school’s own ‘family’, but we will be seeking support from other parties, foundations, and commercial businesses as well. Members of the broader Santa Fe community will be involved in our efforts throughout the year, such as the Spring Fair in May 2010. We have also received grants from the McCune Foundation for our butterfly garden and the PNM Foundation for our watershed education model and Ancient Peoples of New Mexico curriculum. Projects like these support the school’s mission to include nature and science education, and we continue to apply for similar grant funding.
In addition, Dragonfly School increases the value and positive impact of the contributions we receive through our commitment to community service. We are a Roots and Shoots partner (Jane Goodall’s foundation) and official environmental stewards of a reach of the Santa Fe River (Adopt the River Program).
During the last two years Dragonfly School performed several community service projects. Out students, parents and staff have:
• Helped clean up the orchard at The Community Farm and delivered surplus apples and pears to a local food bank.
• Donated winter clothing to Esperanza Shelter for battered families.
• Beautified our designated reach of the Santa Fe River by regularly removing rubbish.
• Planted a butterfly garden including flowers, shrubs and a tree along the river walk.
• Delivered homemade dog biscuits to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and donated $700 to the shelter from the sale of student artwork.
• Performed poetry and songs for the Sierra Vista Residence and Open Hands senior program through the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project.
Fifty students and their families will benefit directly from your contribution. Gifts of any amount are very welcome. We hope you will consider contributing to Dragonfly School and help us make it a great new Santa Fe institution!
As you make your pledge to Dragonfly School this year, please think of friends and relatives who might be interested in supporting us as well. Take a moment to list their names on the back of the form so we may contact them.
Please approach one of our Directors or a member of the Board, if you have specific questions. We accept cash, checks, corporate gifts, stock, or pledges (for payments to be made by the end of the school year).
We know that family budgets are tight, so this in not an easy time to ask for donations, or to give them. But there is also no better cause. The seeds we plant today will grow to be the trees that shade the world our children will enjoy.
Stephanie Smith Nancy Woodward
Director, Dragonfly School Director, Dragonfly School
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