Please scroll down to learn more about this campaign, why your support is needed, and special gifts for minimum donation amounts.
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2020-2021 Giving Campaign
Campaign details:
One Spark Academy has been a lifeline to many families whose children need a nurturing place to learn. But, we continue to need our community’s support to provide the learning experiences our students need. Never has that journey been more challenging than now, as we pivot in remarkable ways to keep our students learning and thriving during a global pandemic. That pivot includes remote learning (with the adaptation of new technologies), as well as in-person learning in a variety of locations: on the trails, at the park, at Art Trek, at the garden, and soon again at our former home, the Thousand Oaks Teen Center, where we will use the gym for Fitness Club.
Our annual year-end online campaign supports our operating funds. Whether by way of a small or large tax-deductible gift, every single donor helps us by giving what they can. We are grateful. Last year, for our 2019-2020 Campaign, we had 87 donors and raised more than $21,000, which included more than $6,000 in matching donations. If you donated last year, THANK YOU. We hope you consider your investment money well spent, and that you might consider donating again this year.
Our goal for this year’s giving campaign is $15,000 raised between December 1 and January 30. Scroll down to see how we will use these funds.
All donors will be listed at the bottom of this page (unless they request to remain anonymous). Listed donors will include our Friends of One Spark who contribute monthly. No contribution amounts will be listed.
*The total amount on the gauge shown above doesn’t include matching or offline donations. The final total (to include matching donations) will be updated at the end of the campaign.
About Us, and Why We Fundraise
If you’re here, then you already know the value of One Spark Academy, or you know someone who does. But to give you some background, One Spark Academy was founded in 2011 with one mission in mind: to give kids who need something different a path to a great education. We’re a small learning center for middle-school students (and older) who, for a variety of reasons, will benefit from a non-traditional setting. We receive no state funding. We rely on registration fees and donations to do what we love to do: teach kids well!
Learn more about us! For the details about our program, go here. To see some of the awesome classes we offer, go here. To watch our home page video, go here.
We have never charged families what it actually costs to run OSA. That is why we became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and that is why we are asking for YOUR help. Consider your tax-deductible donation an investment in the future of our community. You never know who will need us– your child, a neighbor’s, a friend’s, a co-worker’s. Many companies also match your donation to a non-profit. Great news for charitable giving in 2020: Taxpayers who itemize may deduct donations to charitable groups. This basic tax rule wasn’t altered. What changed is a special donation deduction of up to $300 for people who don’t itemize.
Make it monthly! You can become a “Friend of One Spark” with a monthly contribution of any amount.
How Your Donations Will Support Us in 2021
- Support the funds needed to relocate. In November 2020, we moved out of the Thousand Oaks Teen Center after nine wonderful years. Due to the pandemic, it is unlikely we’d use the building in any meaningful capacity before Fall 2021. Although we may continue to rent space there (as we do with other locations), by Fall 2021, we hope to have a permanent space to call our own.
- Provide scholarships for students-in-need to take additional classes they couldn’t afford otherwise, as well as participate in enriching activities. That need is much greater this year!
- We aim to provide at least 5 current students with scholarships ranging from $200 per session (single class) to $400 per session (two classes).
- Supplement the expenditures for our unique courses and our unique pivot.
- Educational materials cost us, on average, $120 per month in a normal year. Since being remote, we have spent, on average, $390/month.
- Help us continue to grow while remaining accessible. Our Flex Plan (full-time) rate is discounted an average of $400 per month, per full-time student, from what our operational costs should require.
PERK #1: OSA Family Donation
For a donation of $200 or more, your current student will receive a copy of our beautiful, full-color 2020-2021 yearbook. (Value: $40)
PERK #2: Community Donation
For a donation of $150 or more, you can receive a precious little Garden Fairy Door, made by one of our students. You’ll be contacted to confirm.
Perk #3: Community Donation
For a donation of $200 or more, you can receive a set of notecards with OSA student artwork. (This piece is by 7th grader Miriam Breedlove). You’ll be contacted to confirm.
Thank You to Our Donors! (Will be Updated Frequently)
(This list also includes our “Friends of One Spark” sustaining donors)
Lori Peters & Todd Geist
Carol & Phillip Schenkler
Ron & Connie Peters
Kathy Volz
Marie Peters
Jessica Morton
Colleen Hunter
Maggie Geist
Jon & Jerri Baker
Robyn & Seth Brady
Carolyn Corwin
Dr. Steve Yoshinaga
Kathy & Rod Leard
Patricia Scoma
Shawn O’Hara
Sue Cashion
Ava & Ken Ungar
Laura & Hernan Erlig
Stella Prudhomme
Jessica & Brian Weihe
Dr. Gerhard Apfethaler
Randall & Sue Peters
Jill Katz
Donna Langley
Benjamin Lupu
Allen Imbarrato
Dale Wildolff
Cindy Morrow
Penny Moyer
Merley Greenidge
Sally Primm
Fiona Morris
Rebecca Baker
The Rodgers Family
Darlene Graeser
Nicole & Scott Hallock
Alison Doucette
Kathy Elliott
Dr. Kathy Jonokuchi
Jenifer & Brent Swartzentruber
Cheryl Radebaugh
Rachel Ameche
Cindy & Alan Pevar
Jeanette Hosek
Carie Rodriguez
Kim Le
Rochelle & Dr. Doug Andersen
Lori Ameche
Dahlia Price
Reed & Lori Podell
Keri Kraft
Miriam & Ken Weiss
Heidi Hamuel
Jennifer Naylon
Donna Ramin
Laura White
Denise Lucarelli
Rick & Bambi Peters
Betty Holt
Sue Lindstrom
Jack & Lori Saunders
Tim Handley
Kitty Brown
Kathy & Sam Azuara
Danielle & Jules Castillo
Debbie Trkja
Theresa Mancini
Jackie Chang
Nancie Rulli
Jerrie Eaton
Sally Eaton
Peter & Marie Laugharn
Roger & Teresa DeBruno
Irma Barajas-Foster
Ellis & Robert Rausch
Lisa Scatena
Bobbie Mathews
Monique Egan
Donna & Steve Stropoli
Lillian Ware
Melanie Ware
Allison Brandt
John Sindelar
Bruce Roberston
Debbie & Mike Epstein
Elliana Tenenbaum
Elan Tenenbaum
Ari Tenenbaum
Meaghan Snider
Michael McCormick