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Help send our 8th grade students to DC by funding their deposits!
Background
I work at a public, Title I middle school in East San Jose, CA. Many of my students have never left California, and some have not even left San Jose. When the staff at my school learned that another local school runs an annual trip to Washington, DC, we reached out to learn how they did it. The coordinator there connected me with a non-profit called Close-Up. She also generously offered to let me bring some of my 8th grade students on their trip over Spring Break 2020.
In October 2019 I hosted a meeting and dozens of interested parents attended. Parents praised the opportunity. However, many of our families expressed that the only thing holding them back was the cost.
Right now we have 16 seriously interested families. We are trying to raise money to pay for their trips. We are exploring many small-scale fundraising options, but we are asking you for help meeting out first financial deadline- the deposits due November 14th.
Why Close Up?
The Close Up program brings hundreds of middle school students to Washington, DC for a carefully crafted youth conference. It is so much more than the "sight-seeing tours" that other companies provide. Students have workbooks and structured discussions, they visit the place our government lives, and they explore Smithsonian Museums. It's not all academics, though! Their itinerary includes visiting the monuments at night, seeing the Changing of the Guard at the National Cemetery, and bonding with other middle school students from around the country. They even get to spend a day in Historic Williamsburg to see what life was like in a colony!
Learn more about the amazing Close Up program here. See our trip itinerary here.
Additionally, Close Up is a non-profit organization. They hire experienced, CPR-certified, passionate educators to guide students through their experiences. They also offer 24/7 support and security, including a staff member to make sure students stay in their rooms overnight and help them if something comes up.
[As a teacher who has worked with other "education" tour companies before, I was excited to see the Close Up is 1) not trying to make money off my students and 2) hires and trains educators, instead of tour guides.]
The 5 day, 4 night trip costs a total of $1875 per student. That costs covers EVERYTHING, including airfare, lodging, all meals, all ground transportation in DC/VA, even overnight support and security. Our first goal is to help our students with their deposits.
Because the trip takes place over our Spring Break, students will not miss any regular school days. Instead, they'll get 5 full days of interactive education during the trip of a lifetime!
Why us?
Around the United States, many schools run students trips to Washington, DC. So, why fund ours? Well, for most of our students and their families, fundraising is the only feasible way to afford this trip. Our community is socioeconomically disadvantaged. We are a Title I school and the majority of our students qualify for free lunch and breakfast.
When we presented this trip to the students, dozens of families said they would love to send their child but they could not afford to. We believe so much in this trip and in our students, that we are working hard to help as many of our students go as possible. We do not want them to miss out on this incredible, educational opportunity just because their families do not have the resources to take them!
Our fundraising goals
Our first goal is to help students with their deposits. The $400 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable because it goes towards airfare from San Jose, CA to Washington, DC. The deposits are due this Thursday, November 14th. All money we receive by this date will go towards the deposits of students who have demonstrated financial need.
If we have 6 more students go, we unlock $1000 of financial aid that we can use to ease the monetary burden of families who qualify.
Additionally, any money we receive after November 14th will go to pay down the remaining balances.
If for some reason a student cannot go on the trip, be it financial or other reasons, their families will receive a 100% refund for everything except the $400 deposit. (The refund claim must be made before February 27, 2020.) Any money that was donated will be reclaimed and applied to another student.
Thank you so very much for your consideration. Our students really deserve this amazing opportunity and any amount you choose to donate would help.
Leave us an address and we'll send you a postcard from DC!
Background
I work at a public, Title I middle school in East San Jose, CA. Many of my students have never left California, and some have not even left San Jose. When the staff at my school learned that another local school runs an annual trip to Washington, DC, we reached out to learn how they did it. The coordinator there connected me with a non-profit called Close-Up. She also generously offered to let me bring some of my 8th grade students on their trip over Spring Break 2020.
In October 2019 I hosted a meeting and dozens of interested parents attended. Parents praised the opportunity. However, many of our families expressed that the only thing holding them back was the cost.
Right now we have 16 seriously interested families. We are trying to raise money to pay for their trips. We are exploring many small-scale fundraising options, but we are asking you for help meeting out first financial deadline- the deposits due November 14th.
Why Close Up?
The Close Up program brings hundreds of middle school students to Washington, DC for a carefully crafted youth conference. It is so much more than the "sight-seeing tours" that other companies provide. Students have workbooks and structured discussions, they visit the place our government lives, and they explore Smithsonian Museums. It's not all academics, though! Their itinerary includes visiting the monuments at night, seeing the Changing of the Guard at the National Cemetery, and bonding with other middle school students from around the country. They even get to spend a day in Historic Williamsburg to see what life was like in a colony!
Learn more about the amazing Close Up program here. See our trip itinerary here.
Additionally, Close Up is a non-profit organization. They hire experienced, CPR-certified, passionate educators to guide students through their experiences. They also offer 24/7 support and security, including a staff member to make sure students stay in their rooms overnight and help them if something comes up.
[As a teacher who has worked with other "education" tour companies before, I was excited to see the Close Up is 1) not trying to make money off my students and 2) hires and trains educators, instead of tour guides.]
The 5 day, 4 night trip costs a total of $1875 per student. That costs covers EVERYTHING, including airfare, lodging, all meals, all ground transportation in DC/VA, even overnight support and security. Our first goal is to help our students with their deposits.
Because the trip takes place over our Spring Break, students will not miss any regular school days. Instead, they'll get 5 full days of interactive education during the trip of a lifetime!
Why us?
Around the United States, many schools run students trips to Washington, DC. So, why fund ours? Well, for most of our students and their families, fundraising is the only feasible way to afford this trip. Our community is socioeconomically disadvantaged. We are a Title I school and the majority of our students qualify for free lunch and breakfast.
When we presented this trip to the students, dozens of families said they would love to send their child but they could not afford to. We believe so much in this trip and in our students, that we are working hard to help as many of our students go as possible. We do not want them to miss out on this incredible, educational opportunity just because their families do not have the resources to take them!
Our fundraising goals
Our first goal is to help students with their deposits. The $400 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable because it goes towards airfare from San Jose, CA to Washington, DC. The deposits are due this Thursday, November 14th. All money we receive by this date will go towards the deposits of students who have demonstrated financial need.
If we have 6 more students go, we unlock $1000 of financial aid that we can use to ease the monetary burden of families who qualify.
Additionally, any money we receive after November 14th will go to pay down the remaining balances.
If for some reason a student cannot go on the trip, be it financial or other reasons, their families will receive a 100% refund for everything except the $400 deposit. (The refund claim must be made before February 27, 2020.) Any money that was donated will be reclaimed and applied to another student.
Thank you so very much for your consideration. Our students really deserve this amazing opportunity and any amount you choose to donate would help.
Leave us an address and we'll send you a postcard from DC!