Investing in Play: Our Fundraising Goals

Hello Thoreau families!

As you may have heard by now (or seen in our previous posts), we are embarking on a community-led project to design and build a new play space on Thoreau School’s campus. The upper playground will soon be removed, leaving our children with limited grounds for play. This new playspace will transform our school grounds, giving our children a place to learn, grow, and play.

This project will only be possible through a community fundraising effort.

The budget estimate for Thoreau’s Backyard is $610,000, and we’re proud to say that $212,750 has already been secured. To bring this vision to life, we need to raise ~$400,000 through philanthropy.

Why Your Support Matters – And Why We Need It Soon

Building a playground like this is a team effort, and our timeline is tight. We hope to have all the funds by late spring 2025, so we can embark on a community-build project next fall, just in time for the next school year. Every gift will bring us closer to making Thoreau’s Backyard a reality.

We welcome you to join this initiative and make your gift online today. If you are willing to consider a leadership gift to help bring the vision to life, please reach out! We are more than happy to talk about what that might look like.

Thank you for being part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create something truly special for our children and our community. How amazing is this?

Together, let’s make Thoreau’s Backyard a place of joy, exploration, and play that will last for years to come.

For more details on how to contribute, please reach out to one of the Playground Committee members listed below.

Thoreau Playground Committee

Mitch Brooks, Chair (1st grade, William)

Justin Sparks, Principal

Cristina Aspuru Viciana (2nd Grade, Anabel)

Benjamin Klein (4th Grade, Max; 1st Grade, Nathan)

Michael LeFante (3rd Grade, Gabriel; K, Mila)

Erin Sahacic (4th Grade, Vanessa)

Matt Strauchon (1st Grade, John)

Carrie Rankin, School Committee Rep (5th Grade, Cooper; 3rd Grade, Leah; K, Micaela)

Courtney Ward (2nd grade, Zoe)