Gypsy Lew is fundraising
Preserve the Hollow Reed for generations to come
Save the Hollow Reed Playground & Legacy
✨ Help Us Protect This Urban Forest for Generations to Come ✨
Dear friends, former students, teachers, families, and supporters of the Hollow Reed,
I’m reaching out to you today as a former student of the Hollow Reed School to share important news and ask for your help in supporting the next chapter of this beloved community space.
Our Story
For over 40 years, The Hollow Reed was more than just a school — it was a home for whole-child education.
We nurtured not only the mind, but also the heart, body, and spirit through:
Art | Drama | Music | ✍️ Poetry | Outdoor Education | Gardening | Joyful exploration
At the heart of it all was our half-acre wooded playground — a cherished green space and sanctuary of undeveloped wild beauty in the heart of Jamaica Plain.
A Time of Transition
In 2020, like so many others, The Hollow Reed had to close its doors due to the pandemic.
Since then, our Board of Directors has been working hard to:
Honor our mission and legacy
Fulfill a donor requirement to contribute the playground’s fair market value to the Children's Ashram Fund for the Hope Project in India
And most importantly: Protect this land — keeping it safe, green, and open for future generations
The Good News: A Merger with Purpose
We’re on the verge of completing a merger with a local nonprofit that shares our values and passion for children’s arts education.
Together, we’ve crafted a plan that:
✅ Delivers the fair market value of the playground to the Children’s Ashram Fund
✅ Preserves the playground as protected open space with a legal agreement to maintain the tree canopy
✅ Ensures this magical place will continue to serve children and families in Jamaica Plain
It’s a beautiful, full-circle moment for the Hollow Reed’s mission.
Why We Need Your Help — Now
To complete this inspiring vision, we must overcome several urgent financial challenges:
- Loss of relief from City of Boston real estate tax.
The Hollow Reed paid $7,000 per quarter for real estate taxes the last two quarters of fiscal year 2025, with continued tax payments for the first quarter of FY 2026, and until the merger takes effect.
⚖️ Ongoing legal expenses to finalize the merger and protect the land.
- No income from programming during this transition.
We urgently need to raise $25,000 to responsibly close this chapter and secure the Hollow Reed’s legacy.
How You Can Help
Donate today — every contribution makes a difference!
Share our GoFundMe with fellow Hollow Reed friends, teachers, families and the larger community of care.
Help us spread the word and grow the circle of support. Your donation is tax deductible! Any funds remaining after taxes and legal fees are paid will go to renovate the building and playground equipment.”
With Deepest Gratitude
This has been a long journey — and we’re almost there.
With your help, we can cross the finish line and ensure that The Hollow Reed’s mission lives on in this vibrant, protected urban forest for today’s children and generations to come.
Thank you for being part of our extended Hollow Reed family.
With love and gratitude,
Gypsy Lew & The Hollow Reed, Inc. Board of Directors
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65 supporters
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