Check out this innovative idea for engaging alumni around a 50th high school reunion celebration!Alumni from the Classical High School Class of 1957 announced an exciting $20,000 donation to the Springfield, MA public school district at local event on June 13th (see picture at bottom).In 2006, the 50th reunion committee of the Class of 1957 decided that instead of buying party favors and gifts for reunion attendees, they would instead give their money back to the public school system that had provided them with a high quality education 50 years ago. Alumna Diane Drude Hartfield said during the event, "We know the Springfield schools aren't the same, and we know they need help." $10,000 in alumni donations were generously matched dollar-for-dollar by Circle Medical Devices, a California-based company.The Classical High alumni gift committee announced their combined $20,000 gift on June 13 to Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, as well as their decision to administer the charitable fund through DonorsChoose.org. The committee is encouraging local Springfield teachers to submit short grant requests for creative classroom projects which get posted to a special website where alumni from the other regional high schools as well as local businesses can participate in supporting local teachers. Educators from surrounding school districts were also invited to the event to learn about DonorsChoose.org as a funding resource for their teachers.Please visit the Classical High School Class of 1957's Alumni Gift website to learn more about these citizen philanthropists' innovative efforts to support local teachers. We applaud Classical High's alumni group for choosing to skip the party favors and instead, work together to provide meaningful support to their local schools and teachers!Classical High Mascot
Springfield Teachers at the June 13th Event
