Summerhill International School held a black-and-white-themed charity gala on March 7, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel to celebrate the school’s tenth anniversary. It was a great evening of fun, food, dancing, and charity. All the proceeds from the event’s silent auction and raffle will go toward building a playground for Melon Hoikuen in Ishinomaki, Miyagi through the organization Playground of Hope. Melon Hoikuen’s operations were greatly affected by the disaster of March 2011. Its attendance tripled since schools nearby closed due to damage from the tsunami. The playground equipment is over 20 years old and needs to be replaced.
From the gala proceeds, Summerhill donated over ¥2.3 million to Playground of Hope. It was a great example of kids helping kids, as Summerhill students painted furniture and created amazing art pieces that were donated to the silent auction. “We are so proud that the Summerhill community — teachers, parents, sponsors, and friends of the school — really came together to demonstrate to our children that philanthropy is important,” said Sandra Shen Buschmeier, head of the Summerhill Parents Association. “It was also a great excuse for us to throw a fun party and show our appreciation to Monique and the teachers for giving our kids a wonderful environment in which to learn and grow.”
The Black & White Gala was a great success, and a happy tenth anniversary for Summerhill International School.
