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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2019 Giving Campaign
One Spark Academy has been a lifeline to many families whose children need a nurturing place to land. But, we continue to need our community’s support to provide the learning experiences our students need.
For the past seven years, our year-end online campaign has helped us with critical 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.
Our goal for this year’s giving campaign is $15,000 raised between November 19 and December 31. 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 shown above doesn’t include offline donations. The final total (to include offline and matching donations) will be updated at the end of the campaign.
About Us, and Why We Need YOU
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 aged kids (and older) who, for a variety of reasons, don’t fare well in traditional settings. We receive NO state funding, nor are we independently wealthy. We rely on registration fees and donations to do what we love to do: teach kids well!
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.
Learn more about us! For the FAQs of our program, go here. To see some of the awesome classes we offer, go here. To read about our annual outdoor adventure, go here.
PERK #1: OSA Family Donation
For a donation of $200 or more, you can choose to receive a copy of our beautiful, full-color 2019-2020 Memory Book (yearbook), available in May 2020. (Value: $40) Just note your request when you check out.
How Your Donations Support Us
- Provide scholarships for students-in-need to take additional classes they couldn’t afford otherwise, as well as participate in enriching activities.
- We aim to provide at least 5 current students with scholarships ranging from $175 per session (single class) to $350 per session (two classes).
- Supplement the expenditures for our unique courses.
- Educational materials cost us, on average, $380 per month.
- Our Healthy Lunch program is estimated to cost $45,000 in 2019-2020, between food, supplies, instruction, and staff just for lunchtime. Lunch per student runs $200 per session for 4 days/week.
- Provide for OSA teacher chaperones to attend our outdoor program to Yosemite in April 2020. The cost for each chaperone is $700 (which doesn’t account for a non-paid work week).
- Help us continue to grow while remaining accessible. Our Flex Plan (full-time) rate is discounted an average of $400 per full-time student, per month, from what our operational costs should require.
PERK #2: OSA Family Donation
For a donation of $200 or more, your student (grades 6th-12th) can attend one of our remaining Art Trek or Sports Academy dates available in January or March 2020. (Value: $40 or $60, respectively.) Just note your request and the date when you check out. Information here.
Here’s How You Can Help
- Help us reach $15,000 by donating whatever you can afford to this campaign before December 31, 2019. Your donation is tax-tax-deductable. Many companies also have partner matching. Consider your 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.
- Ask a family member to donate on your behalf. Maybe your child wants the “gift of giving” this holiday season by making a donation to OSA!
- Become a “Friend of One Spark” with a monthly contribution of any amount.
- Shop on Amazon Smile. Same Amazon, but a small % goes back to your charity of choice. To sign up, enter One Spark Foundation Inc (Newbury Park).
Perk #3: Community Event Donation
For a donation of $500 or more, you can choose to receive two tickets to our Spring “Ignite a Spark” Fundraiser on Saturday, May 2nd, at Art Trek. This is an adult-only event. (Value: $140) Just note your request when you check out.
Why We Aren’t Running A Crowdfunding Campaign
- Crowdfunding platforms charge up to 9% for the service, although less for non-profits. By hosting here, 100% of your funds go directly to support One Spark Academy. The only loss is from credit card transactions.
- Crowdfunding platforms distribute either monthly or when the campaign ends. By hosting here, your donations are available to One Spark Academy right away.
Thank You to Our Donors! (Will be Updated Frequently)
(This list also includes our “Friends of One Spark” sustaining donors)
Lori Peters & Todd Geist
The Rodgers Family
Denise Kamradt
Susan & Dave Brown
Tim Handley
Gerhard Apfelthaler
Kathy Volz
Laura & Hernan Erlig
Marie Peters
Mark & Elena Wendell
Patty Carter
Maya & Steve Tenenbaum
Mehran Matloubian
Peter & Marie Laugharn
Patricia Scoma
Bobbie Menkes
Diane LaDouceur
Dr. Steve Yoshinaga
Kathy & Rod Leard
Jon Baker
Roger & Teresa DeBruno
Gale Acorn
Kathy Jonokuchi
Ron & Connie Peters
Cathy Linson
Michele Fegley
Stella Prudhomme
Jennifer & James Kerr
Lilian Ware
Rebecca Baker