Every Dollar Helps A Child
The Children's Cottage needs your help! Please consider supporting our non-profit preschool so that we can not just survive this uncertain year, but remain resilient to future disruptions. Every dollar you donate will go directly to funding a child's education. We have no additional fees and are a 501c(3) registered organization.  From $20 to $20,000 every dollar makes a difference in a child's education. 
Our Story
The Children’s Cottage Cooperative is a child-centered preschool.  Our days are focused around the interests, imaginations and passions of our children. They are given a foundation of trust and love that will enable them to open their hearts and minds to the world around them.  Our mission is to instill a love of learning in children and help them develop essential life skills. By honoring their thoughts and feelings, allowing them to practice problem-solving, and encouraging openness, we teach children to value themselves and others. We work together as a community to learn and to grow.   Like everyone else, we were forced to shut down due to shelter in place guidelines in March -- literally the day before our annual fundraising auction was scheduled to take place. And when what we thought would be a two week break turned into the remainder of our school year, our amazing teachers managed to provide one of the most robust virtual preschool offerings in Marin and beyond.  
Our Struggle 
Our annual budget is based on three things: first, we charge an affordable fee for attendance;  second, we raise funds and support local businesses through our annual auction; and third, each family donates their time to help teach each other's children and perform administrative functions. Without any tuition payments in months and last year’s fundraising goals only 1/4 of the way to being met, we find ourselves on the brink  of a new school year. We are still full of uncertainty,  but because we are such a tight knit community, we have been able to come up with a plan to reopen our school fully in compliance with all recommendations for safety.  This does not come without a price, however. A full cottage is bustling with close to 40 kids and aftercare available on a daily basis for an extra fee. Our tuition price is typically based on parent participation, but this year due to safety protocols it will be left to our amazing teachers. This limits us to one program of only 12 students. Our parent run board of directors has worked with our teachers and explored every option.  We have cut costs substantially in our budget, but even with tuition more than doubling for our children during a time when many families can't even cover basic living costs due to Covid restrictions, we will still operate at a considerable loss.  Even if we were to close the school for the year, our overhead costs would put the future of the Cottage at risk.
Our Legacy
Our charming little white house with green trim is a historical landmark. The Cottage Preschool was founded in 1948 by a group of forward-thinking mothers, who wanted to raise their children as a community. They found it a home in the historic Remillard Cottage  which was built in 1891. The Cottage has seen its share of ups and downs over the past 70 years, but nothing compares to what we are facing in this time of global pandemic.  In order for the Cottage to not just survive this uncertain year, but to remain resilient, we've committed to raising $50,000 to ensure we have operating funds to keep the school open through 2022 -- even if we have to continue to limit attendance/tuition, fundraising, and parent involvement for that long.  2020 has caused enormous stress for our country, community, and families. Perhaps the hardest hit are educational institutions who rely on tuition, fundraising, and the contribution of an entire community to thrive. We need your help. Please help us to ensure that the Cottage is here for generations to come!
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