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More Than $9,000 Raised for Public Charter School at Recent ‘Two Rivers Live’ Event

Two Rivers Live
Two Rivers Live

On Saturday, Feb. 27, Two Rivers Community School raised just over $9,000 for school operations and out-of-class opportunities for students. Two Rivers Live at Center 45 attracted a wide array of community members, school families, and prospective families totaling over 130 guests throughout the night. Event guests enjoyed local bluegrass and country music, as well as local foods from The Tapp Room, Stick Boy Kitchen, and Over Yonder. Jesse Miller, of First Security Insurance, and Todd Mortenson, of Todd’s Calendar, led a rousing live auction boosting the night’s energy level.

Two Rivers Live

The community event was the school’s inaugural major fundraising event. “Jesse and I were both amazed at how many people came to the first time event.  It’s always fun to be part of something meaningful like that,” says Todd Mortenson. The event featured a complete local lineup of businesses and sponsors for the auction, food, music, and beverages. Appalachian Mountain Brewery provided beverages alongside Boone’s newest roaster, Hatchet Coffee.

“This event was more than fundraising. Two Rivers is in its eleventh school year making this event very special. It’s a way for the school to kick off its second decade and give our community a chance to congregate for an evening of celebration. Our goal was to have 40 people attend and raise $3,000. This event was undoubtedly a major success” says Ryan Robinson, Two Rivers Development Director. The school’s PTO and fundraising committee led the event’s organization and planning, but it was a total team effort across the school’s faculty, business sponsors, and community.

The school plans to continue hosting this event annually. Open enrollment for Two Rivers begins March 14, which adds value to the timing of the event. Prospective families were able to come enjoy an evening out and meet many of the school’s faculty, families, and board members in a relaxed setting. It was a great platform for sponsors to gain visibility and share their story, as well. Overall, the event succeeded in many ways.

Two Rivers Community School provides an inclusive learning environment meeting the needs of each individual student. The staff and faculty believe that teaching the whole child is an educational approach that makes sense. Being a public-charter school governed by local community members helps teachers implement this approach; however, public-charter schools are funded at a lower level than regular public schools.

Public-charter schools on average receive 75 cents to the dollar a regular public school receives. This is not only a disadvantage when creating a budget, but puts extra weight on our educators to meet state standards with less resources than our regular-public school peers. Two Rivers Live at Center 45 supported the school’s efforts to provide quality educational choice for all students. The event was sponsored by: The Mast General Store, The Tapp Room, Stick Boy Kitchen, Artemis Productions, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Center 45, HC Local First, Hatchet Coffee, Soulstice Massage, First Security Insurance, and Over Yonder.

About Two Rivers Community School

Founded in 2005, Two Rivers Community School is a tuition-free, K-8, public-charter school based in Boone, NC. The Two Rivers curriculum challenges students with dynamic learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Academics are at the core of every opportunity provided with the expectation that students grow in both character and in intellect during their time at Two Rivers. This year the school’s enrollment is 178 students with enrollment opening for the 2016-2017 school year on March 14, 2016. If you would like to learn more about Two Rivers Community School, please contact Ryan Robinson at 828-262-5411 or email at rrobinson@trcsboone.org.