“The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”
-Maria Montessori
Bright Futures Fund
Our Bright Futures Fund supports our school - the people and the physical space - now and well into the future. The next big project on the horizon is a necessary one: a new roof to keep our beloved school building as good as new for decades to come.
Our fiscal year ends on June 30. To meet our $225,000 Bright Futures Fund goal and end the year on target, we need to raise the final $25,000 during the last ten days of June.
Your gift will be DOUBLED up to $12,500! But only if you give by Midnight on June 30. A family in our Children’s House community has challenged us to reach this goal by matching every gift, dollar for dollar between June 20 and June 30 until our $25,000 goal is met!
When you give to our Bright Futures Fund, you are investing in:
Children - building within them the skills, grace, courage, resiliency, humanity, and a sense of responsibility to create healthy and peaceful futures for themselves and their communities.
Teachers - supporting their Montessori practice with professional development opportunities. Our guides are highly trained and prepare a classroom that supports and inspires children to love to learn - they are the dynamic link between the materials and the child’s learning experience. To get to know our guides, watch this video.
Our future - sustaining The Children’s House to ensure that it will provide an exceptional learning environment for our students today and for years to come - no matter what challenges we may face.
To make a pledge, please describe your ideal payment plan for your gift in the comments section of this form. Thank you.
Gifts to our Bright Futures Fund are unrestricted - they are used when and where they are needed most. Should you prefer to direct a gift to a specific program or project, please contact Renee Hintz, Director of Advancement, at (231) 929-9325.
Since our Bright Futures Fund launched in 2020, the fund has raised $569,763 and supported these projects:
- Installed a new climber on the Primary playground
- Hung a new Compass Montessori Junior High sign at our Park Street Campus
- Purchased a new professional dishwasher and food processor for the kitchen
- Replaced the in-floor heating boiler
- Added new window shades
- Purchased a 12-passenger van and a riding lawn mower
- Installed a new door lock system
- Restriped, repaired, and resealed the driveway
- Installed a new roof membrane
- Refinished many pieces of existing furniture and replaced some that could not be refinished
- Replaced two classroom refrigerators, three dishwashers, a washer and dryer, and several vacuum cleaners
- Replaced custom cabinetry in a classroom
- Painted walls and ceilings in classrooms and great halls
- Replaced vinyl flooring and rugs
- Refinished the gym floor
- Created two dedicated Primary nap spaces
- Renovated the former Junior High wing into a new community room, YCC Friends Club space, staff kitchen and work room, and quiet space for adults
In addition, our Bright Futures Fund supports our cash reserves for future improvements - so that we are always able to plan for and respond to the needs of the future.
Leadership Giving Levels
You are invited to learn more about our leadership giving levels and other ways to be a part of our Bright Futures Fund including IRA charitable distribution, memorials and honorariums, planned giving, and foundation grants.
Questions? Please contact Renee Hintz, Director of Advancement, at (231) 929-9325.
The Children’s House is a nonprofit organization and gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax ID# 38-2536891.