Donors made 98 individual gifts to raise $26,920 in one day to support Eastern Mennonite School’s COVID-19 Aid Fund.

The April 22, 2020 #FlamesStrong Giving Day was made successful by generous support from faculty, staff, parents, alumni, friends and even a current student, reports Trisha Blosser, development director.

“Our community is strong and generous,” said Paul Leaman. “We are so grateful that we will be able to assure that no family needs to leave the EMS community this year due to hardships caused by COVID-19.”

Support came in other ways too:
– encouraging notes and prayers throughout the day sent in by email and with donations
– phone calls with encouraging words
– contributions toward matching gifts by the Board of Directors and other supporters
– delivery of lunch and a shoofly pie at the school for those working together, but socially distanced

Thank you video

See a thank you video featuring Advancement team staff

Throughout the day, donors were entered into drawings for prizes. Winners were:

7 – 10 a.m., picnic blanket – Shannon Yoder ’03 Roth: current parent and faculty member

10 – 11 a.m., EMS tumbler – Greta Shenk ’05 Bucher

11 a.m. – Noon, 10-pack of greeting cards featuring EMS student art and photography – Melodie ’01 Bomberger May

Noon to 2 p.m., Herb Weaver pottery – Charles Hendricks, current parent and designer of the EMES building

2 to 4 p.m., Les Miserable musical tickets – Julianne ’01 Burkholder Ross, current parent and EMS librarian

4 to 6 p.m., Booster Club Membership – Andrew Zapanta’93 and Alumni Board member

6 to 8 p.m., Apollo 5 tickets – Marvin Miller, former long-time EMS choral director

8 to midnight, EMS fleece blanket- Kelli Nichols, current parent

Young Alum EMS Earring drawing – Felicity Zimmerman’19

Gifts are welcome for the COVID-19 Aid Fund any time.