UPDATE: The Courtier Foundation will be giving Madison Waldorf School an additional 2:1 match for all fundraising dollars that we raise, which means that a $20 donation from you becomes $60. Thank you for coming alongside us, and thank you to the Courtier Foundation for their generosity!

Dear Madison Waldorf Community,

The start of the school season is upon us and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing something beautiful taking shape within our school and community. It is something I find difficult to put into words as there is no real measure for what this is.

It’s a feeling.

I see it in the eyes of children greeting one another in the morning. In the laughter filling our halls. In a handshake, a hug from a teacher, a smile between parents, and the simple feeling of being present—of being home.

We have created something magical,

Our Spark.

A spark of curiosity.
A spark of imagination.
A spark of courage and of compassion.

A spark that asks: Who am I? What can I become? And what can I bring to the world?

We’ve kindled this spark so the whole community can meet each other in a way that allows us to be human, express ourselves fully and allows our flame to grow in harmony within one another.

This harmony is rooted in a simple but profound understanding: a human being is more than a mind. We educate the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—because each is essential to becoming a fully engaged, capable, and compassionate human being.

Rather than rushing children toward an increasingly technological and information-driven world, we give them something far more precious: time to develop as human beings.

This Year, Help us Kindle the Spark

Our goal for this year’s Annual Appeal is $15,000, and we invite every member of our community to help us reach it.

For every gift, a pinecone will be added to our Spark display, growing throughout the year as a visible reminder to our children of what we can accomplish when we come together.

$50 creates meaningful experiences for a child, lie pricking a perfectly ripe raspberry to turn into jam and share.
$250 provides the chance to see the sun rise over Lake Michigan through a tent flap.
$1,000 makes a significant contribution toward sustaining the educational environment our children experience every day.
And gifts of $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or more can help us pursue larger opportunities and invest in the future of Madison Waldorf School.

There is no single “right” gift. What matters is that we participate together.

Our Board of Trustees has wholeheartedly committed to this effort and has pledged to match the first $4,650 raised, helping every gift go even further.

Our goal is simple:

50 pledges in 50 days.

You can make your pledge today and fulfill it later, or make your gift now.

Because when each of us contributes what we can, something remarkable happens.

The Spark becomes a collective light.

Thank you for believing in our children, in our school, and in the possibility of what we can create together.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Michael Frunza
Fundraising, Board of Trustees
Father to Theo and Adelaide

Kindle the Spark

Please join us as we kindle the spark.