Dear friends and family,

I'm reaching out to you today with a heavy heart and an urgent plea for assistance. On October 10th, 2023, our center experienced a devastating sewage disaster that has left over 150 EKA families and employees displaced without childcare or jobs. The sewage backup is due to an unforeseen mainline pipe that broke, which resulted in a catastrophic situation. The sewage affected 5 of our 7 current classrooms, causing over 5,000 square feet of damage, including flooring, furnishings, walls, furniture, and all classroom materials, as well as our entire kitchen with appliances. The cost of replacing classroom furniture, materials, and furnishings alone exceeds $150,000.

With families in desperate need of childcare for their children and employees in need of paychecks, we attempted to operate from the unaffected side of our building the following day. Aspen promptly reported the situation to the licensing authority, which, in turn, called the health department to inspect the premises to ensure safety. The health department deemed the entire center uninhabitable due to the fact that our storm shelter was affected, and the sewage water had become cross-contaminated from shoe traffic throughout the entire building.

Aspen's insurance has proven to be utterly uncooperative and is giving her the runaround in seeking any financial relief. The insurance broker she chose took advantage of her as a new business owner, overselling her coverage that she didn't need and omitting essential components that she did need. The insurance will not cover teacher salaries, outstanding bills at the center, tuition reimbursement, or property damages.

If you are familiar with Aspen Kouri, you know she is one of the most caring and generous individuals. Her family did NOT deserve this disaster or the mistreatment that has followed. This situation has utterly devastated Aspen, causing her to shed countless tears and experience heartbreak over and over again for her center. Her primary goal is to provide a safe and loving learning environment for children every day. Our families and employees have become like family to us, and we will stop at nothing to get back to where we were - a place we all consider home.

Fortunately, the owner of Maple Square, where EKA leases our space, has finally joined forces with us to repair the structural damages such as the drywall and damaged flooring. However, we still have thousands of dollars in supplies to replace, tuition to reimburse our families, teacher salaries to pay, and bills to settle at the physical center.

The costs associated with this disaster are overwhelming, and we are struggling to bear the financial burden. If you can spare any amount to help us alleviate these costs and restore our families' lives, please click the link below to make a contribution. Your generosity will be deeply appreciated, and it will go a long way in helping our community rebuild. Every donation, regardless of the amount, will make a significant difference in our ability to recover from this unforeseen disaster.