Client: Polaris Charter Academy

Event: Second Annual Celebration of Learning, May 2, 2009

Event Summary:

The Polaris Charter Academy, a public charter school located in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, is an official Expeditionary Learning School, with a curricular model of “learning by doing”.  Polaris aims to educate students to be self-motivated, creative, critical thinkers, with the ultimate goal of shaping life-long learners and citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. To celebrate and fund this mission, McGowan Durpetti & Associates was asked to produce its Second Annual Celebration of Learning event in May 2009.  Students, families and members of the community joined for a luncheon, school tours, and hands-on workshops, such as photography, gardening and organic cooking. By managing event programs and introducing a sponsored raffle and silent auction, MD&A helped Polaris raise money to fund its Expeditionary Learning programs. The 2009 annual event was a far and away success, raising a full five times more than the year prior.

Services:

McGowan Durpetti & Associates managed event production including advance logistics, program development, and on-site execution, allowing for the event to improve its fundraising effectiveness and building support of the Polaris Charter Academy’s mission.