Giving Opportunities
Every gift to Montessori Community School (MCS) is an investment in our students and their authentic Montessori education. At MCS, we nurture a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, a deep commitment to community, and stewardship of the natural world.
There are many ways that you can make a difference, and it's important to us that your gifts are used in a way that brings you joy.
Give the Gift of an Education for Life
The MCS Annual Fund provides vital, unrestricted support that allows us to meet our school’s most pressing needs. Your generosity helps create an environment where young minds can thrive. Your gift helps:
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Equip classrooms with authentic Montessori materials
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Make a Montessori education accessible to families who need tuition support
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Provide Montessori certification and professional development opportunities for our teachers
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Maintain and improve our campus and playgrounds to keep students safe and happy
Becoming a member of the Pink Tower Society, our monthly giving program, makes supporting MCS easy and convenient. While a large annual gift can feel intimidating, smaller monthly gifts are easier to manage and add up quickly. For example, for the price of a cappuccino, a $5 monthly gift becomes a $60 annual donation, and a $25 monthly gift becomes $300 a year. Your support helps us plan essential projects with the confidence that we can count on steady and dedicated donors like you. All Pink Tower Society members are recognized in our Annual Report with a pink tower icon next to their names.
In 1972, Marilyn and Wayne Weber founded Katrice Montessori School, which later became Montessori Community School, to support their daughter, Patricia, who had Down syndrome. Montessori education helped Patricia thrive and she went on to learn American Sign Language and hula, became a teacher’s assistant, and helped preschoolers learn to read. After the deaths of Marilyn and Patricia in 2022, Marilyn’s son, Mark, and his wife, Karen, created the Patricia Weber Family Fund to provide critical resources for a wide range of students. Your gift honors the legacy of our first student and the family who loved her.
Jerry Mueller was the quintessential Montessori man. He spent his 43-year career as a teacher at Montessori Community School, helping hundreds of children develop a lifelong enthusiasm for learning and a commitment to bettering our world. His passion for Montessori education left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
The Jerry Mueller Teacher Training Fund was established in 2018 to honor his retirement. Although Jerry passed away in 2020, his legacy lives on through this fund, which supports MCS teachers in obtaining Montessori certification and furthering their professional growth. The fund has helped five teachers become certified Montessori educators and is currently supporting two more, Lindsay Camerik and Kathryn Alderfer, as they complete their training.
In 2015, a group of dedicated teachers, staff, and their families came together to create the Children’s Education Endowment Fund, with the goal of diversifying the student body and expanding access to the Montessori model of education throughout the community. Each year, interest from this fund provides essential tuition support to families in our community, opening the door to an authentic Montessori education for children who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Every gift helps grow the fund and supports families not just today but for generations to come.
Learn more about the four memorial funds that helped establish the Children’s Education Endowment Fund.
Other Ways To Give
Aloha United Way
Gifts made through Aloha United Way’s Donor Choice program benefit the Children's Education Endowment Fund. Contact your company’s AUW campaign coordinator for details on designating MCS as an Aloha United Way recipient.
Matching Gifts
Many companies offer to match charitable gifts made by an employee. Matching gifts are credited to the donor and can double or even triple the size of your gift.
Create a Named Endowment
A named endowment is a meaningful way to create a lasting legacy. With a gift of $25,000 or more, you can establish an endowment in your name or in honor of a loved one, and direct your support to a program or area that matters most to you. To learn more, please contact James Kia, Director of Development.
