Belonging Always, All Ways

Dearest Community, 

This giving season I am asking those who can, to join me and our community in supporting The Rise School of Denver, my favorite high-quality inclusive preschool. Rise is a small non-profit early childhood program where kids ages 1-6 with and without disabilities belong, learn and thrive! The Rise School officially launched as a nonprofit in 2003 when six families with young children with Down syndrome came together to create our inclusive preschool - one that has touched the lives of hundreds of families over the years since then, including mine.

                       

In 2021, after moving from NYC, I was burnt out from teaching through a pandemic, from school administrations and broken systems, and looking for a change of career... and then I found Rise. Immediately upon entering the building, I realized that this was an extremely special place and that my journey in early childhood education was not over. Rise is a place where every child belongs and genuine connections are fostered every day. Our dedicated teaching teams and therapists go above and beyond, even on the hardest of days. (It is preschool after all and not all days are magic!) The hope and joy of this little school is palpable.

                       

So, why am I telling you this? What can you do?

Here is the deal: to keep Rise accessible and affordable for all our families, tuition only covers 45% of our operating costs (high quality programming, passionate and qualified educators... keeping the lights on, toys). The remaining 55% is raised through grants and donations (remember, we are just a scrappy little non-profit after all!), which is why I'm sharing my personal fundraising page with you. Will you donate to support the difference that Rise makes for our families? Can you support us in maintaining a place where every child has the opportunity to not only belong but shine? 

                         

                                                  THANK YOU!