Special Events
Maplebrook actively initiates numerous types of fundraising activities in order to bridge the gap between tuition income and total operating expenses. Throughout the year Maplebrook hosts special events for the students, staff, parents and members of the community. In the fall, we gather to celebrate Parents’ Weekend with athletic events, parent-teacher conferences, and other displays of our students’ creativity and progress. Parent workshops are scheduled throughout the weekend and provide information on important topics such as estate planning, transition planning, or financial aid and other funding sources.
Annual Silent/Live Auction
One of the premier weekend festivities is our annual Silent/Live Auction Dinner where parents, students and staff bid on items ranging from ski trips in the Rocky Mountains and sailing excursions in Key West to tickets to professional sporting events and popular Broadway shows. The Auction is one of our largest fundraisers and is simply a lot of fun and a wonderful social gathering. Although things may get a little competitive when bidding for faculty-sponsored items or the coveted “Head of School” for the day. To view a sample of the items auctioned at last year's gala event, click on the following link, The Maplebrook Auction Catalog - 2009.
This year's auction is scheduled for Friday, October 29, 2010 at the Interlaken Inn and Conference Center in Lakeville, CT. In order to make a donation or underwrite an expense for the auction, please complete the corresponding form and return it to the development office as soon as possible in order to be included in the 2010 catalog. For those who would like to participate in the bidding but are unable to attend the event, please use the Auction Proxy Bid form.
Bowling Tournament
Fundraising events at Maplebrook are nothing new, but the interesting thing about this one is that the students themselves are actively involved. Students register in November and have until Mid-January to secure pledges. On a cold winter afternoon, they travel to the bowling alley where they enjoy some pizza before getting down to business. Students and staff fill the lanes in their attempts to throw some strikes. The inaugural year, students and staff raised $6,000 for technology programs.Each year afterwards, students and staff have collected lane sponsors and pledges to raise between $8-10,000 for various programs. Everyone on campus is encouraged to volunteer or participate in this fantastic event. After all totals and scores are tallied, awards and certificates are awarded to the students for the outstanding efforts.
Grandparents’ Day/Open House
With the coming of spring, the School hosts Grandparents’ Day and an Open House to showcase its programs on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Maplebrook and C.A.P.S. students proudly share their academic and creative achievements with visiting grandparents and prospective parents/students. Information sessions and campus tours are also provided along with a delicious luncheon and sporting event later that afternoon.
Art Show
The month of May is reserved for Maplebrook’s Annual Art Show. The exhibit begins with an opening reception featuring both local and national talent using a variety of mediums (sculpture, painting, and photography), and concludes the following weekend during our spring Parents’ Weekend. Artists are invited to attend and sometimes include our very own students and staff. Maplebrook shares a percentage of each sale with the artist and has raised approximately $12,000 per year. This fundraising event was initiated many years ago by dedicated Board Members, that were also avid horse enthusiasts, and proceeds were used to expand the equestrian program. Since Maplebrook no longer owns its own horses or stables, equestrian students ride at a nearby stable that also has a certified therapeutic riding program, therefore, the proceeds are earmarked on a yearly basis dependent on the needs of the school.
Maplebrook continues to support the horse world and holds a Kentucky Derby Day in conjunction with the annual art show opening reception. This celebration, the first Saturday in May, includes a "live" viewing of the Derby, great food, drinks, great art, lots of fun and much more.
Annual Golf Tournament
The Annual golf tournament is scheduled on the Saturday before graduation during the spring Parents’ Weekend. It shares the weekend with some other very prestigious events; the play, prom, and of course, graduation on Sunday. Golfers tee off at 1 pm using a “scramble” format. Sponsorship is largely made up of local vendors and parents. Parents, students, staff, a few alums, and community members don their “lucky” golfing garb (just like Tiger Woods) and hit the links hoping for a respectable performance.
All monies raised are earmarked for the Jane Fernandez Scholarship Fund in honor of Jane who was a much-loved teacher at Maplebrook in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Since 2000, the tournament has collected over $200,000 so that scholarships may be awarded to appropriate day students that wish to attend.
In order to participate in this funfilled event, click on the Golf Tournament link to access the registration form in PDF format.
President’s Breakfast
Each year, Maplebrook selects a member of the larger community to honor at its annual breakfast in June. The honoree is someone who has become a much respected member of his/her respective community and has devoted numerous hours in assisting others for the greater good. These are the types of individuals that we teach our students to emulate and as such, want to recognize and applaud their efforts. Recipients are presented with a plaque of appreciation and donations are welcomed from the guests that attend the breakfast on the honoree’s behalf. The following school year and each year in perpetuity, a scholarship is awarded to a Maplebrook student in the honoree's name. To learn about this year's honoree, you can view the program which also recognizes past recipients.
Community Service
Five years ago, the students and staff initiated a new project to learn more about philanthropy and giving back to the community. It was decided to host the Hand-in-Hand 5K Walk/Run to raise funds for the Panichi Center for Communications and Learning in Beacon, NY. Since all of the Maplebrook students have learning challenges, this was a natural collaboration and they have thoroughly enjoyed giving back. Since the beginning Maplebrook students have donated over $15,000 for the Center. The walk begins at 1:00 pm and runners from all over the tri-state area lace up their sneakers for the race at 2:00 pm, which takes place in November on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Awards and prizes are distributed to participants.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Director of Development Lori Hale
Maplebrook School
5142 Route 22
Amenia, New York 12501
Phone: (845) 373 - 9511 extension 256
Fax: (845) 373 - 7754
E-mail: specialevents@maplebrookschool.org
