Glenforest
School
“alaG” Spring Dinner
“alaG” offers a glimpse through the eyes of students who learn differently
Glenforest School hosts the 3rd Annual alaG: Fundraiser & Gala on Thursday, March 22, 2012 and Honors
Dr. Glenda Sternberg, Founder and School Head from 1983 – 2005
Columbia, SC- Glenforest School, a K-12 nonprofit day school for students who learn differently, hosts its 3rd Annual alaG: Fundraiser & Gala on Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 5:00pm – 8:30pm at Glenforest School located at 1041 Harbor Drive in West Columbia, South Carolina.
Proceeds directly benefit local students who learn differently and support the Glenforest School Scholarship Fund, which helps families in-need underwrite the cost of their child’s education.
The alaG is Glenforest’s signature fundraising and community awareness event, and is the pinnacle of the school’s yearly social calendar. The alaG aims to assist Glenforest in its continuous efforts to raise public awareness, support and funding to benefit students with learning differences in the community and their families. Glenforest coined this very important evening with its unique, tongue-in-cheek “alaG” title (spelled backwards to illustrate how a dyslexic student might see or read the word “gala”) to help articulate the event’s central theme and focus: "seeing through the eyes of students who learn differently."
To further convey the alaG’s message this year’s event also features four extraordinary, large-scale, multi-sensory, art installations that will artistically portray what the students experience to be the meaning of “learning differences,” just as they see it. These interactive presentations, designed and installed by Glenforest students and teachers, will temporarily transform selected classrooms into exhibition spaces sprinkled throughout the campus for guests to explore. Each installation will incorporate a broad range of everyday and natural materials, chosen for their evocative qualities, as well as video, sound and performance. Each classroom will be dedicated to visually describing a different LD diagnosis (including ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome and Dyslexia) and will provide sensory narrative related to each learning difference; conveying the students’ personal expression and understanding of each.
In addition to raising community awareness, the alaG will help Glenforest generate much-needed funds that will be used to create more educational sponsorship opportunities for students with learning differences in South Carolina through the Glenforest School Scholarship Fund. Proceeds will directly benefit and support local students with learning differences, their families and assist in affording the Glenforest education their child needs, wants and deserves. Money raised by the alaG, and other financial donations, can help Glenforest provide the optimal educational environment to any student in need of academic, social and emotional support necessary for accommodating their unique learning style or unique learning needs. The alaG will also help the school step closer towards meeting its goal to ensure that no child is turned away or denied the education they deserve due to lack of funding.
Chris Winkler, Head of Glenforest School believes “financial circumstances should never prevent students from benefitting from an education they require; one that meets their unique learning styles and learning needs.”
Of all current Glenforest students, 35% are on scholarships or receive financial aid of some form that is provided through the Glenforest School Scholarship Fund. This fund is 100% voluntarily aided, and sustained by contributions and fundraising efforts by community groups, individuals, families and organizations.
“The ability to provide families with scholarships and financial aid is extremely important to us. “ We are continually campaigning to inspire giving and encourage community support for the fund to enable access for all in need of funding, and to allow us to work with families for future enrollment.” “Each year we are overwhelmed by the number of applications we receive for financial assistance and thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and community members we are able to support many of these requests. Yet the need for scholarships still far outweighs its availability.” “There are currently over 100 amazing students with learning differences on our admissions waiting list; each name on the list represents a family waiting for scholarship funding to become available so they can enroll their child. Proceeds from the alaG will hopefully take some of these names off of our waiting list and help these students in need of funding enroll into the school!” Says Chris Winkler, Head of School.
This year’s alaG Fundraiser & Gala program includes: cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, multi-sensory classroom presentations, special guest speakers, student ambassador appearances, student art exhibition and the 2012 alaG Award presentations. The event will be held at Glenforest School located at 1041 Harbor Drive in West Columbia, South Carolina.
Tickets are available to purchase in advance or at the door. For more information contact 803.796.7622 or email shayna@glenforest.org.