Why We Give – A Parent’s Perspective

We could have moved anywhere. In fact, we checked out virtually every B.C. community with a Waldorf school before we uprooted our young family and settled on Squamish.

Why Squamish? Well for starters, it has a Waldorf School that bursts with a loving glow. There is a great vibe coming from this school that we simply couldn’t explain when we first visited. The second reason? Lifestyle, of course. We want our children growing up in an outdoor environment like we did. Room to move and breathe, forts to build, dogs and horses to own, bikes to trash, trees to fall out of… our boys have a lot of work to do!

Only my husband Joshua and I can completely understand the transformation that has occurred over this past year since sending our oldest son, now 5, to Cedar Valley Waldorf School. It is so much more radical than we ever could imagine. We expected it to take years before he would reach this level of confidence and security. Now his funny and mischievous spark has leapt to the foreground. And his little brother? At three-years-old, we can also say that the changes in him are truly astounding. We marvel at him daily, and attribute much to the love he shares with his preschool teacher and friends.

We are truly fortunate to have our lives touched by this school, and it feels wonderful to see what’s happening in our children. Thank you to our gut-feelings for pushing us toward a scary move in a new town that we didn’t know much about to go to a school that we didn’t know enough about. Whew! It feels good when you know you’ve made the right decision.

I want to reach out directly to every individual reading this letter. And if someone’s reading over your shoulder, then I’m talking to you, too! I have become very involved with Cedar Valley Waldorf School. Since the get-go it’s been full-on and I’ve embraced everything I could. I’ve definitely jumped in with both feet.

Right now our Annual Giving Campaign “The Cycle of Gratitude” is the most important focus for our school right now. It will raise our profile, raise much needed funds, and maybe even increase enrollment, but most importantly participating with the AGC will bring security for our children and their future at this school. This is why I have no choice in my involvement; I must know that my children’s school is sound and solid for years to come, starting immediately.

Our school needs your help. So far I’ve given the most valuable gift that I have: My time. After that donating money is easy, and it really doesn’t matter how much! It’s the spirit behind it that counts. Maybe you can only afford $20. Maybe you can afford $20 a month. Or $200 a month. Perhaps you can donate $2,000 (I’m looking at you, grandparents!). We have over $20,000 to raise in a few short months. Anything – and I mean anything – you can contribute will make a difference.

Please consider participating in the success of our school; there are many different ways you can participate. Donating money is the fastest and easiest, and you don’t have to stop there. We have some very exciting fundraising ideas coming to fruition, and there’s going to be a lot of help and volunteering required. Please consider a stronger presence in our school’s efforts, and let’s make sure that we all participate – in some way – in the exciting events coming down the pipe. Together we can make this school stronger, more vibrant and a place that will impact our community – and the world – in immeasurable ways!

Kristi Hansen
Mother Of Two, Plumber By Trade, General Liver Of Life,
and Host of Homewreckers (W Network and HGTV USA)