Every Child Deserves a Place Where They Belong

Four years ago, our daughter was struggling. She'd been suspended several times, her mental health was declining, and she needed more support than a classroom of 29 could provide. So we took a chance on KABAS.

She arrived working at a preschool level. KABAS didn't see a child who couldn't. They saw a child who hadn't yet been given the right tools. Within six months, I noticed I wasn't scanning every room for her anymore. She was just there with me, and she was happy.

She learned to communicate, cope, and made academic gains that had not been made in years. She found her mantra, "I can do hard things," and now our whole family says it too.

Today, after a detailed nine-page KABAS and extensive collaborations, she's thriving and exceeding our expectations back in public school, with KABAS still supporting her every step.

KABAS didn't just change her life. They changed ours. We will always be grateful."

Stories like Amelia’s are why KABAS exists. We're Kalamazoo's only K–8 school built specifically for marginalized children with unique academic and behavioral needs. For 12 families last year, we were able to say yes, even when tuition was out of reach. Thanks to our donors, KABAS provided approximately $450,000 in tuition scholarships, covering an average of 90% of the cost through our sliding-scale model, because a family's income should never decide whether their child gets to learn in a place built for them.

But scholarships only cover part of what it takes to keep our doors open. Overhead costs including the classrooms, the expert clinical staff, partnerships with local universities, the culturally and learner focused - materials, the small class sizes, the monthly caregiver collaboration, and everything that it takes to ensure children improve 2-3 grade levels in a single year, has to come from somewhere else.

That's where our first annual gala comes in.

On Friday 10/23/2026 at 6PM, we're gathering our community for an evening of food, live music, basic swing dance lessons and more! You'll hear directly from KABAS families, students, and staff about what this school means to them. And every dollar raised toward our $50,000 goal goes straight to overhead, so scholarship dollars keep going where they belong: Directly into a child's education.

Today, our Amelia is thriving. She reads and has a community that understands her. She isn't the exception at KABAS; she's the rule.

We need your help to make sure she isn't the last.

Join us. Be part of the first chapter of something Kalamazoo has never had before.

Join us at the 1st annual KABAS Gala on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm!

Ticket Cost: $20.00. Buy your ticket HERE

Sponsorship: Support KABAS by sponsoring our event. Use the link to become a Bronze ($150+), Silver ($500+), Gold ($1,000+), Platinum ($5,000+), or Diamond Sponsor (Unlimited $)!

If you’re unable to attend but would still like to support our mission, you can still donate using the Donate button above!

Whether you're attending or giving a gift, your support sends a strong message of belief in our students—and in a more inclusive future for education.

You can also donate to our Endowment Fund at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation here.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Warmly,

Dr. Margo

Executive Director & Co-Founder

KABAS First Annual Gala

You Are Cordially Invited