The Village Green Day Schools held a community event over the weekend to raise funds for an inner-city preschool that helps at-risk children by supplying them with educational and health necessities throughout the year.
Village Green Day School in Great Falls hosted an art and silent auction that was open to the community to raise money for Apple Early Literacy Preschool in Southwest Washington, D.C. Blues artist Ray Kaminsky performed throughout the evening, as attendees evaluated the artwork offered and had a chance to catch up with other parents of Village Green students and alumni.
“The fund-raiser was a huge success, selling close to $30,000 worth of art and over $5,000 from silent/live auction items donated by the community at large. Apple Early Preschool will receive $15,000 towards scholarships for inner-city children, thanks to the involvement of those who truly care,” said Sylvia Ghorbani with Apple Early’s fund-raising committee.
Included in the art auction were several murals painted by the children at the two Village Green Day Schools and by the children at Apple Early Literacy Preschool.
Lynne Roots, from the Village Green Day School in Great Falls, explained that the “scholarships” are not used in the traditional sense of the word but will be used to ensure that each child coming to Apple Early will be able to receive the educational assistance and guidance necessary to help him academically. It is more of a funding mechanism than a scholarship.
Lynn Simmons, also with the school in Great Falls, said, “This [has been] such a wonderful evening. The number of people who turned out for this is just great.”
Ultimately, the Village Green Day School would like to raise enough money to help fund a permanent building for Apple Early Literacy Preschool. Currently, children attending the program meet in a church basement to receive educational instruction.