Memorial Learning Garden for Meredith Owens Reed
Fundraiser for the Meredith Reed Memorial Learning Garden
(This is an approved fundraiser by the Reed and Owens family)
On April 15, the world lost an incredible soul. Meredith Reed was a brilliant woman and dedicated mother, and her loss has been deeply felt by folks across the globe. We were so incredibly fortunate to have Meredith be a part of the team at Skagit Art Preschool (SAP) here in Mount Vernon, and her wisdom and perspective were invaluable to us. We would like to honor her volunteer work and dedication to learning by transforming our outdoor play spaces into what will be known as the Meredith Reed Memorial Learning Garden.
Meredith enrolled her son Harrison at SAP in 2019, and gifted not only monetary donations but her time and energy and boundless knowledge of education and development as a volunteer to make the school a better place. As a member of the Board of Directors, she spent countless hours revamping our curriculum, hiring new staff and even acting as a substitute director when needed. She was the adult in the room, and we loved her for it.
Anyone who knew Meredith also knew that she was a joy to be around, and we can think of nothing more appropriate to honor her memory to create a space dedicated to beauty and learning at our preschool. Her husband, Matt, and Harrison’s father, Mike, agree and want to move forward as quickly as possible to create this garden and play space so that her children have a tangible reminder of their mother and the love for learning and zest for life she possessed.
Our plan is to create an integrated garden and play space that welcomes our kids to explore nature, delight in beauty and move their bodies. It incorporates garden beds for learning about plant growth, an outdoor classroom under the shade of a tree, a climbing dome, room for sensory play, a bike path and a buddy bench to promote inclusion and acceptance.
Meredith loved themes, and because of that we hope to make the majority of the garden elements relate back to Meredith in some way. Vividly colorful plants because of her love for the tropics; gold star flowers because she would give gold stars to board members to keep us motivated as we slogged away at tedious tasks; a rhododendron to commemorate her birthday and a yellow brick road/path because that was the last themed party she threw for Harrison.
We hope you’ll join us in making our vision to honor Meredith a reality.
Funds will cover a new climbing dome, custom buddy bench, trees, landscaping, the incredible amount of bark and pea gravel we need to make climbing structures safe, a buddy bench, new garden beds, a garden shed and a water permeable bike path so that kids can play all year round. It will also be used for maintenance costs. Our current play yard is a dust field.
*Any funds raised above the needs of the memorial project will be directed to our general fund to cover tuition costs, supplies and other needs related to the school.
Skagit Art Preschool is a registered WA state nonprofit, and has a pending 501(c) (3) designation. If we are approved, any donations made in the 2021 calendar year will be retroactively accepted as tax-exempt.