A Call to Give from 7th grade Cedarwood parent Justin Fallon-Dollard. Dear Cedarwood Parent or Friend, I never thought I would contribute financially to a private school; but today, my family is not only contributing as we have for many years, we are asking you to do so as well. I am the father of Maddie Fallon, a 7th grader who is in her ninth year at Cedarwood. Maddie began Cedarwood as a kindergartener when in the very same year Portland Public Schools (PPS) closed two neighborhood schools within walking distance of our North Portland home. Like many families who decide to opt-out of public education, we undertook a journey to find a suitable alternative and did so with trepidation. Here’s what we found at Cedarwood: • Students filled with joy, self-respect, kindness, and imaginative thought. • Project-based learning whose outcomes readily surpass the pedagogy of standardized testing. • Thriving, talented, and committed teachers. • Mission driven administrative staff focused on sustaining the school. • Parents who support their school through generosity of spirit and concerted, heartfelt action. After visiting Cedarwood, our decision to enroll Maddie was easy, despite the financial and logistical challenges. Few public schools offer a robust curriculum that balances story and science and art and intellect. Fewer schools are focused on whole child development, inclusive of spiritual discernment and social responsibility. At Cedarwood, surnames are shed and name brands are shorn. When teachers meet a child, it is done so on that child’s own terms. All dimensions of the human being are nurtured and each child is honored. While my family opted-out of public schools, we remain committed to accessible quality education. Maddie is part of a diverse learning community. Her peers represent nearly all Portland neighborhoods. Keeping Cedarwood accessible and our community diverse requires fundraising. Our tuition is among the lowest of all the independent schools in Portland. Cedarwood’s Annual Appeal benefits our programs and teachers and helps provide financial aid to thirty one percent of our students. Your gift will promote affordability, provide access to excellence in childhood education, and sustain Cedarwood’s mission. Our goal this year is to raise one hundred thousand dollars. With two hundred and fifty families at Cedarwood, I think it’s a reasonable goal. I know many families already make sacrifices to attend Cedarwood, however no donation is too small. Your gift may be made through installments; this is how my own family participates in the Annual Appeal. If your employer offers a charitable donation match please consider leveraging that resource. Cedarwood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit so all gifts are tax deductible. Thank you for supporting access to excellence at Cedarwood and promoting a diverse learning community. Kind Regards, Justin Fallon Dollard
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:11:47 +0000
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