Baptist Convention of Pa. / SJ

THE GOAL
We want to give 7 under-resourced students in Philadelphia a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment this school year. 

**UPDATE:  We reached our goal for the first quarter! HOWEVER, since the Philadelphia School System has decided to remain virtual throughout the winter, we are, likewise, extending our SchoolHouse program. We are continuing to collect funds for scholarships and will continue to provide financial assistance for under-resourced students to be a part of the PlayArts Schoolhouse program. Thank you to everyone that came together to make this happen and for your continued support as we seek to be part of the solution for these children this school year. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
 

THE STORY
Do you ever feel like you want to help but the problem feels too big? 

We do…

We are Bedrock Fishtown, a new church in Philadelphia, that is committed to caring for this city through listening and responding in love. When the Philadelphia Public School system made the decision to do virtual learning through November 17th, a problem was created that was too big for any governing body or administration to solve alone. How do we keep our children safe while continuing to provide a positive learning environment for all children? 

For a family that has strong resources and a network, the problem can be solved by bringing together several families in a controlled environment and hiring a qualified individual to educate their children. While this is a great solution, it's not a reality for under-resourced families. 

As we began to listen, we were told that while there was certainly a need for school supplies, the greatest need was a safe and positive learning environment. We were then connected with Krista Yutzy-Burkey who is the owner and director of PlayArts. 

PlayArts is an indoor play space that has built its reputation on creating a positive environment where kids can learn and play. They took action by developing the PlayArts SchoolHouse  program for elementary-aged children. All students will attend a 4-hour block, 5 days a week, where they will receive in-person small group learning support. 

When we connected with Krista it became evident that we were both committed to ensuring her program was accessible to individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds. In an effort to make this possible, Krista has set aside 7 slots at a discounted rate. We have committed to raising the funds to fill those slots with children from the Philly public school system that are under-resourced. 

We understand that this is not going to solve the big problem that the families of our city are facing. If we wait to act until we have a solution that will solve our problem entirely, we will never act. We have the opportunity to rally behind these students and show them that they have a community that sees and cares for them.

THE NEED
We need to raise $14,520.00 to send six under-resourced students to the PlayArts SchoolHouse  program. 

THE COST 
Here is the cost breakdown for a single student. 
$11.00 - hour 
$44.00 - day
$220.00 - week
$990.00 - month 
$2,420.00 - semester (September 8th - November 17th)

HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION 
1. Give what you can. You can choose to support a student for an entire semester or just one hour, either way you are providing real change for a student in Philadelphia this year. 

2. Share the cause. You can share the link to this go fund me page across all social media platforms. You can reach out to us at the email provided on this page and we would love to tell you more. 

3. Listen and be active in your communities. Speak with your local teachers, administration, and parents about how you can be part of the solution in your community.