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The Acorn-A School for Young Children

A capital campaign is about more than bricks, classrooms, and playgrounds.

It is about creating places where a child can spend an afternoon beneath an oak tree, discover a caterpillar in the garden, build something with a friend, become absorbed in a project, or find the confidence to try something new.

For nearly 50 years, The Acorn has grown alongside the children and families who call it home. As we continue expanding our preschool and kindergarten programs into Tall Oaks Grade School, we have an opportunity to invest in the spaces and resources that will serve generations of Acorns to come.

Capital gifts help make that growth possible.

Unlike annual giving, which supports the school's ongoing needs, capital giving supports significant, long-term projects such as campus improvements, new learning spaces, renovations, and other investments in the future of The Acorn.

It is about protecting the qualities that make childhood at The Acorn special while giving our school the physical spaces it needs to grow.

How Campaign Funds Will Be Used

The Tall Oaks Capital Campaign is a $1 million effort to strengthen and expand the physical spaces that support The Acorn's growing community. Campaign funds will be directed toward long-term capital improvements at both The Acorn and Tall Oaks campuses, with a focus on creating safe, inspiring, and developmentally appropriate places for children to learn and grow.

Future Tall Oaks Expansion & Classroom Spaces - $300,000 goal

Prepare Tall Oaks for continued elementary growth, including additional classroom space and the eventual expansion of the program through third, fourth, and fifth grades.

Millie's Playground & Outdoor Learning — $250,000 goal

Create a nature-rich outdoor playground and garden at Tall Oaks in honor of Acorn alum Millie Kerr. The space will provide opportunities for imaginative play, climbing, gardening, exploration, and connection with nature.

Campus Safety & Security - $200,000 goal

Support important safety and security improvements across our campuses, helping ensure that our school environments are thoughtfully designed to protect children, families, and staff.

Acorn Campus Improvements - $200,000 goal

Invest in the continued care, improvement, and long-term sustainability of our historic Broadway campus so it can continue serving Acorn children and families for generations.

Learning & Enrichment Resources - $50,000 goal

Provide long-term capital support for learning environments, specialty spaces, and resources that enhance children's opportunities to create, investigate, experiment, and explore.

Donation Levels

Building Our Future

Every gift to the Capital Campaign helps strengthen our campuses and invest in the spaces, improvements, and resources that will support The Acorn and Tall Oaks for years to come.

$20,000+
Legacy Level
Provides transformational support for major capital priorities that will shape the future of The Acorn and Tall Oaks for generations to come.
$10,000–$19,999
Forest Level
Helps advance significant campus projects, including outdoor spaces, safety and security improvements, and essential infrastructure.
$4,500–$9,999
Oak Level
Supports meaningful improvements to classrooms, outdoor learning environments, campus spaces, and the places where our community gathers and grows.
$1,000–$4,499
Growing Roots Level
Helps strengthen the foundation of our campuses through improvements to learning spaces, facilities, furnishings, and resources.
$500–$999
Sapling Level
Helps make important campus improvements possible, creating welcoming, functional spaces where children can learn, play, and grow.
$100–$499
Seedling Level
Every Seedling gift helps move our vision forward, contributing to the spaces, improvements, and shared resources that will support the next generation of Acorn children.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Acorn community is growing. With the addition of the Tall Oaks campus and the expansion of our elementary program, we have an opportunity to thoughtfully invest in the spaces our children need today while preparing for the future.

The campaign allows us to address significant long-term needs that cannot be funded through tuition or the annual operating budget alone.

The Acorn Fund supports the school's ongoing annual needs and operations.

The Tall Oaks Capital Campaign supports larger, long-term capital projects and improvements—things that help build, improve, expand, and sustain our physical spaces.

Both are important to the continued success of The Acorn.

Capital Campaign gifts are intended to support capital improvements and long-term projects, rather than routine operating expenses.

This distinction allows donors to see their gifts contributing to projects that can serve Acorn children for many years.

We deeply appreciate every gift and plan to recognize contributors in a way that honors their generosity. Donors may have the opportunity to be acknowledged in campaign materials, and there may be naming opportunities for larger contributions. However, if you prefer to remain anonymous, your privacy will be fully respected.

Millie's Playground is a nature-based outdoor playscape and garden at Tall Oaks honoring Acorn alum Millie Kerr.

The space is being designed to encourage imaginative play, climbing, exploration, gardening, and connection with nature. It will include areas for children to observe butterflies and songbirds and experience the outdoors as an extension of their classroom.

The goal for Millie's Playground is $250,000.

Yes. Donors may express a preference for supporting a particular campaign initiative, such as Millie's Playground, subject to the school's campaign priorities and gift acceptance policies.

If you have a specific project in mind, please contact the school to discuss your gift.

Yes. Multi-year commitments can make it possible for donors to make a larger contribution over time.

Please contact the school to discuss a pledge schedule that works for you.

Yes. Gifts of every size are important to the campaign. Donors may participate at a level that is meaningful to their family or organization.

Larger gifts may also qualify for recognition through campaign giving levels or specific naming opportunities, where applicable.

Yes. The campaign is designed to strengthen the entire Acorn community.

Funds will support capital improvements at The Acorn's Broadway campus and the Tall Oaks campus, while recognizing that each campus has different needs.

Gifts may be made through the school's online giving portal or by check. If you are considering a significant contribution or multi-year commitment, please contact the school directly so we can assist with the appropriate giving process.

There are many ways to support the Capital Campaign besides donating! You can help by volunteering your time, attending campaign events, spreading the word to other potential donors, or contributing in-kind resources. Every effort helps us reach our goal and strengthen our community.

Projects will be prioritized based on available funds, timing, urgency, and the needs of the school. Campaign priorities may be implemented in phases as funding becomes available.

 

Help Us Put Down Stronger Roots

Every generation of Acorn families becomes part of the story.

The Acorn + Tall Oaks $1 Million Capital Campaign gives our community an opportunity to help shape what comes next and to create spaces that today's children will enjoy and that future Acorn children will inherit.

Together, we can grow our roots, strengthen our campuses, and build a lasting foundation for the next generation of Acorn children.