By Bailey Faulkner
Saturday marked another day of successful fundraising for Boone’s Two Rivers Community School. The school hosted its second annual Two Rivers Live event at Center 45 where community members and local businesses gathered to support Two River’s Mountain Adventure Program.
The Mountain Adventure Program partners with the Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center to give Two Rivers students a chance to take the material they learn about the environment and our community in the classroom to a hands-on setting in the outdoors. Buffalo Cove teaches younger students about the outdoors with day hikes and adventures, while third through eighth graders have the chance to participate in overnight trips with the program.
“Two Rivers offers different types of programming that aren’t often available in other schools,” Development Director Ryan Robinson said. “We feel that the Buffalo Cove program is one of the greatest strengths at the school.”
Two Rivers, which focuses on “each student’s continuing discovery and development of self and community,” relies on the High Country community to make important initiatives like the Mountain Adventure Program a reality for its students.
The Two Rivers Live event brought the High Country together to help fund the program that kicks off this spring. Coming out in full force, the community showed up with even greater numbers than last year’s already successful fundraiser. Some of this year’s sponsors included Mast General Store, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Appalachia Cookie Company, Stick Boy Bread Co., The Tapp Room, Hatchet Coffee, First Security Insurance, Lazarus Design and Artemis Independent. The sponsors supported Two Rivers’ cause with food, beverages, entertainment, items for auctions and sponsorships.
Last year’s first annual event raised around $8,400, but this year’s larger turnout helped the school raise over $14,000 for the program. That money was raised exclusively by locally-owned businesses and the High Country community.
“Having our community business leaders step up speaks volumes about keeping things local in the High Country,” Robinson said.
In addition to other fundraising efforts, each donation made in the event’s auctions came from locally-owned businesses.
“We are definitely proud of that, and we want to continue local fundraising in the future,” Robinson said.
Also in attendance at this year’s event was Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. Two Rivers was thankful to have the U.S. Representative of North Carolina’s 5th District at the fundraiser.
“It’s wonderful to have local dignitaries attend the event and recognize our efforts in the community,” Robinson said. “We are excited that people are taking notice of what we are doing at Two Rivers.”
Two Rivers prides itself on being inclusive and open to all students and community members, and this year’s fundraiser will certainly help the school give its students’ the more rounded and enlightening educational experience central to Two Rivers’ mission.
Local businesses and community members will soon be able to see the impact of their efforts. The $14,000 raised at this year’s event will directly benefit third through eighth graders as they embark upon the Buffalo Cove trip coming up in April.
If you want to learn more about Two Rivers or help out with a donation to the local public-charter school, you can visit the Two Rivers Community School website here.
Check out these pictures of this year’s Two Rivers Live fundraiser to see what the annual event is all about!
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