In Support of Mary Crade

** Please note, we are in the process of changing over the Organizer role to Mary Crade's Daughter, Sofia. One of several hurdles we have to cross is to temporarily make Sofia the Beneficiary.  Please note that Mary Crade is the true beneficiary  and that has not changed.  This will be reflected again as soon as we are able to transfer the organizer role.**  Thanks, Organizing Team

Mary Crade  has devoted her life to spreading  her love of learning to the next generation. In her thirty years of teaching  she has impacted hundreds of lives and treated each child with tremendous grace, compassion, and a patience that is unrivaled, enthusiastically giving them the tools they need to take on the world! Whether her student is a natural born reader or someone who needs a little extra guidance, she meets them where they are and sees their triumphs as her own. Her passion for life is infectious and she meets every day with an attitude of rolling up her sleeves and making the world a more beautiful and just place. 

Mary is a proud mother of two daughters, who were lucky to grow up in the Summit family. Realizing the tremendous need, she and her husband, Jess, opened their home 10 years ago, fostering children who were not given a fair chance at life. They are now the doting parents of two amazing sons, who are fully part of our family!

Mary was recently diagnosed with cancer, and after an extensive surgery and ongoing chemotherapy, her spirit is as strong and as resilient as ever. This unexpected chapter has not been easy for her or her loving family, but as is in her stoic nature, Mary has faced this hardship courageously, exuding great dignity and humor. Realizing that this diagnosis meant that she would have to miss months of her final year teaching, was a devastated blow, but she remains optimistic that she will be able to rejoin the Summit family as she continues chemotherapy for the second portion of the year! Her well deserved retirement is just months away, and she and her family wish nothing more than for her to enjoy years of good health, hiking the trails she so loves with her favorite pup! 

Cancer was never part of the plan, and we hope to have Mary's primary thoughts devoted to her healing, not the financial burden this puts on her and her family. If you are able in any way to make a small donation or attend the fundraiser, she and her family would be tremendously grateful! This community has meant the world to Mary and hopefully small acts of generosity can help lessen the strain in this difficult time.