Annual Giving Fund

By making a contribution to the Aurora Waldorf School Annual Fund, you are supporting the vital resources necessary to give our students a meaningful and rewarding Waldorf education. Your donation supports the AWS operating budget and enables our school to recruit and retain talented, dedicated teachers, support a rich Waldorf curriculum, provide tuition assistance, and maintain and enhance our campus.

A gift of any amount is greatly appreciated. Each donation is fully tax-deductible and remains within our school and benefits our students. Gifts are accepted throughout the year.

Consider the benefits of our Automatic Giving program where your donation is automatically charged on a recurring basis (e.g. yearly, monthly, weekly) to your credit card or deducted from your checking or savings account (EFT).

The importance of storytelling, of the natural rhythms of daily life, of the evolutionary changes in the child, of art as the necessary underpinning of learning, and of the aesthetic environment as a whole – all basic to Waldorf education for the past 70 years – are being “discovered” and verified by researchers unconnected to the Waldorf movement.

Paul Bayers, Professor, Columbia University Teachers’ College

Dear Waldorf Community,

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support of our school. Your contributions have been instrumental in our mission to create a nurturing environment where children thrive and develop into self-assured adults who contribute positively to the world. Your support is not just a donation but a catalyst for our growth and success.

As I reflect on the last 12 years as an AWS parent, a spouse to a teacher, a member of the finance committee, the board of trustees, and now as the board president, I think about how much this school and the AWS community have changed my life and shaped my family life. We have learned that not all education is the same and that every child learns at their own pace, and allowing them to do that is in the child’s best interest. One of the most important things I have experienced here comes from one of the Waldorf philosophies, "Childhood is to be honored and preserved." We live in a wild and hectic time when schedules, screens, and news dominate our lives. Given a chance, most of us would gladly go back and take more advantage of being a kid, not wanting to grow up so fast, and just embrace being a child in this beautiful world. Our children will grow up someday, but let them be kids for now. AWS is the perfect place for them to do just that while receiving a holistic and exceptional education!

In the past few months, we have made very noticeable improvements to the school. The first thing everyone will be sure to notice is the new parking lot and sidewalks around the school, thanks to a generous donation from The Scott Bieler Family Foundation. Another less visible major project is a new roof on the school. However, it will be evident to the faculty, staff, and students when they realize they do not need to worry about getting wet indoors when it rains! These projects, additional investments for more stand-alone classes, and the increased ability to assist families with the tuition adjustment program are only possible due to the generous donations to our annual fund.

It's important to understand that tuition alone is not enough to fully fund our school and its mission. Your support is crucial for the long-term health and prosperity of our school. Last year, we exceeded our goal of $50,000, and we hope to surpass this goal again this year. Your donations are not just a financial contribution but a lifeline for our school.

Please join me in generously giving to the AWS Annual Giving Fund. Your gift will provide the necessary resources to support the current efforts and to continue the growth of our school and community well into the future.

Sincerely,

Jim Anderson, AWS Board President