The words of renowned writer Toni Morrison sums up an approach to working with children that The Gardner School strives to bring to every interaction with its students. She said, “When a child walks in a room, your child or anybody else’s child, does your face light up? That’s what they’re looking for.”
At The Gardner School, children do make our eyes light up. We make it a priority to introduce innovative curriculums and caring adults into the lives of as many children as we can, even those we don’t have as students.
Supporting the Make-A-Wish® Foundation Across the U.S.
Some kids have a few more challenges than others, and they are some of the bravest and strongest children we’ve ever met. Through Make-A-Wish®, we’ve met kids facing critical illnesses with incredible strength and wisdom. To support families during difficult times, we’ve built a relationship with Make-A-Wish® in cities throughout the U.S.
Make-A-Wish® is in the business of helping dreams come true. Whether a child wants to be a superhero, visit a faraway place, or meet a role model, Make-A-Wish® brings dreams to life. Granting a wish isn’t just about fulfilling childhood dreams. It also means honoring the families who tirelessly support their children by making hospital visits, administering medication, holding hands, and giving hope. A wish is an opportunity for a family to step away from the stress of illness and enjoy time together.
We Know How to Throw a Great Party
One of our favorite ways to support kids is by being a proud sponsor of Walk For Wishes, an annual Make-A-Wish® Foundation fundraiser. This year, we sponsored Walk for Wishes events in and around Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana—all close to our school locations where TGS staff, students, and families can take an active part. In each location, it energized us to see hundreds of people showing up to walk beside families and generously share their time, money, and passions.
We also get to meet Make-A-Wish® families in person by hosting send-off parties for wish recipients. The Gardner School has served as a launching point for some truly exciting adventures! We feel lucky to see joy on little faces as they learn that their deepest wishes will be fulfilled because of the generosity of others. It reminds us of the importance of what we do every day: supporting kids as they learn and grow.
In August of 2019, we hosted send-off parties for Axl and Toby as they headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to meet some of their favorite characters. In Tennessee, we surprised Axl with a Toy Story themed event, while Toby in Minnesota got to hang with Mickey before leaving on his trip. We can’t wait for our next party later this fall in Chicago! Hosting a pre-wish event helps a family set aside time to celebrate their wish with their friends and local community. Our bright, colorful preschool spaces make a festive atmosphere where everyone can gather.
The Gardner School’s Community Commitment
As an educational institution, we know the power of giving back to others, and we help teach our students about it on a daily basis. Parents know that the most powerful lessons are modeled, not taught. To model sharing and helping others, we make it a priority to contribute to nonprofits in every city where we have schools. In 2019, The Gardner School has donated more than $24,000 to the Make-A-Wish® chapters in order to help children’s dreams become reality, and we make this gift in honor of our wonderful TGS families.
We don’t mention this number to draw attention to ourselves. We use it to illustrate how committed we are to supporting children, especially those with unique challenges. Our curriculum includes teaching children about community service, and that’s something we practice across our organization as well.
Helping Kids Help Others
If you want to help your child develop compassion and empathy, giving them opportunities to help others is a great starting point. Even little hands can make a big difference at fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, and nonprofit events. Let your child choose an issue or an organization that is meaningful to them to foster a connection. Or, set aside time every month for your family to serve others through volunteer work. By encouraging pro-social behavior, we’ll raise a generation of kids who respond to others with kindness.
The Gardner School Supports All Children
We want to be an ally to all children, including those who can’t attend school because of serious health issues. Our Chief Operating Officer Tammy Robinson says, “We love helping to bring dreams to life for children and their families. It is something we strive to do each day at The Gardner School, and this is one of the many reasons we support the work of Make-A-Wish®.”
For more information about how we can help your children learn, set up a time to explore the location nearest you. Our interactive curriculum, academic focus, and highly-trained teachers bring the very best in education to every student, every single day.
