The financial “why” behind our annual fundraiser

We’ve been a registered nonprofit since 1988, but this is the first year we’ve questioned whether we could operate. We decided to open this year, knowing it would be at a financial loss, and with many unknowns ahead. Every year we host a carnival open for the community, with a cozy coupe race track, a cake walk, temporary tattoos, and many, many more toddler-friendly carnival games. We also hold a silent auction with raffle baskets that donors and our families contribute. This year, we are unable to hold our carnival again due to covid safety regulations. Instead, due to the incredible generosity of RTG families, many small businesses, and larger well-established, nationwide companies, we are able to bring you our largest fundraising drive of the year through an online auction. The proceeds directly pay for our facilities over the summer, when we have no income, and for teacher supplies for fall classes that we must buy even before fall registration is full. The cost of adding online classes this year with art supply packets, and outdoor classes with nature-themed activities, was a bigger financial burden than in past years, but we managed to keep our enrollment costs low and our doors open. We loved being able to offer online and outdoor classes, in addition to our smaller, indoor classes and we will do it again next year. This online auction, and what would have been our carnival, helps ease our financial loss due to limited class sizes and additional supplies. We thank YOU so much for allowing us this immense privilege of more than 40 years of serving our community’s families, and hope you can share and participate in our online auction! It truly makes a difference.