From volunteering and fundraising to building community and supporting students, Country Day parents made an extraordinary difference this year. The time, energy, and generosity our parents pour into Country Day enrich every corner of campus, from enhancing student experiences to strengthening our community and fueling essential fundraising efforts.
Through the dedication of our Parents' Association, including FOTA and International Parents, Boosters Club, POCIS, and the Country Day Fund, your involvement has made a real and lasting difference. In the spirit of transparency and celebration, we’re proud to share how your efforts have contributed to this year’s success—and most importantly, THANK YOU!
Parents' Association
The Parents' Association (PA) plays a vital role in supporting the Country Day community through volunteer service and fundraising efforts. Their biggest fundraising initiatives—Big Saturday, Run For Good, the Car Raffle, the Art Sale, and the Bi-Annual Auction—generate significant funds that directly benefit students, faculty, staff, and the community.
In addition to these events, more than 700 parent volunteers contribute their time throughout the year as classroom and advisory parents, assist with carpooling, support parent education events, arts and drama receptions, and other initiatives, all of which strengthen our community among students, families, and faculty.
In the 2025–26 academic year, the PA generously funded numerous requests that supported both academic programming and faculty/staff well-being. A total of $375,914 was gifted to the school, supporting:
- Parent Speaker Series, featuring Jennifer Wallace and Jeff Selingo
- Faculty education and professional development
- Additional classroom and program enhancements
On Friday evening, January 30, the PA hosted its much-anticipated All-School Celebration & Auction, bringing together parents, faculty, staff, and friends for a night that proved—once again—Bucs show up. In total, this community event contributed $143,278.
The PA also contributed $56,000 for faculty and staff hospitality to celebrate all employees of Country Day with food and treats!
Additionally, our community-driven program, Run For Good (donating $18,701 to Generation WE), continues to spread the Country Day feeling while making a tangible impact.
Our 63rd Big Saturday raised $105,092, and the Car Raffle raised $117,000.
Thank you to PA President Jill Halverstam and her entire board for leading an incredible year of community and impact on the school. She truly led the way to fill the community with love.
Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is a dedicated parent volunteer group within the Parents' Association that enriches our fine arts programs across all grade levels. FOTA volunteers contribute behind the scenes—assisting with drama productions, sewing costumes, organizing art exhibitions, and supporting concerts and other arts events throughout the year. Signature initiatives this year include the long-standing Country Day Art Pop-Up Sale, raising nearly $44,000 that directly impacts the arts departments. In addition, volunteers helped with the 20th anniversary of the Create to Donate Pottery Workshop, where participants glazed pre-made ceramic dishes and created hand-built ornaments to benefit VIA Health Partners. FOTA fosters creativity, community engagement, and a deep appreciation for the arts at Country Day.
The International Parents Group plays a vital role in welcoming and integrating international families into the school community. As part of the Parents' Association, this group enhances the school's globally-minded culture by hosting events. Most notably, the International Food Hall was held at Big Saturday, and families from over 20 countries shared authentic dishes this year. Among the community events, including the Welcome Coffee, speaker sessions, and socials, the annual International Parents Fall Dinner brought together around 80 community members to celebrate cultural diversity. These initiatives foster connections among families with international backgrounds and those interested in promoting global engagement.
Boosters Club
The Boosters Club works year-round to strengthen school spirit and create meaningful connections across the Country Day community. Countless Boosters volunteers welcomed new families at the August community tailgate, provided spirit wear to all faculty and staff in September, helped host the Jack Sink Baseball Tournament, and proudly cheered alongside students at the Special Olympics in April. Upper School athletes visited Lower School classrooms, and “Little Bucs” cheered on the Bucs at spirit nights every season. Fundraising initiatives such as the membership campaign, the annual golf tournament, and concession sales directly support the athletics program, providing nearly $100,000 each year in funding for teams, athletes, and athletic experiences across campus. Thank you to Courtney and Kevin O’Neil, their entire board, all members, and volunteers for their support!
POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools)
POCIS supports families of color, the school’s DEIB initiatives, and serves as a space for unity and belonging. POCIS actively seeks opportunities to strengthen our community, ensuring full participation and inclusion for everyone. This year, POCIS stayed true to its mission through volunteering, participation, and meaningful connections. Divisional gatherings allowed parents and students to bond and enjoy time together, fostering stronger relationships. POCIS also collaborated with the International Parents Board to further enrich our shared experiences—whether it was game nights with chocolate fondue before basketball games or hot dogs at a football tailgate. Additionally, POCIS community members supported cornerstone events such as the annual Back-to-School Cookout, Holiday Potluck, and the Lower School Buccaneers' Choice Dance. The proceeds from the dance enabled POCIS to make a substantial contribution toward supporting the Mark E. Reed Scholarship. Attendance at all these events reached an all-time high. Finally, POCIS formally connected with the new Head of School, Dr. Tara Christie Kinsey, at the head's home.
We are incredibly grateful to the faculty, staff, students, and broader community for their unwavering support and commitment this year. As we look ahead, we are excited for a new year filled with bigger ideas and even more fun! Thank you to Co-Chairs Mia Jordan and Esther Destin for your leadership and commitment.
Country Day Fund
Our annual giving program, the Country Day Fund is the school's top giving priority and raises more than $2.7 million a year with a direct, positive impact on every student, teacher, and member of our school community. These generous contributions are vital, providing critical, unrestricted operating dollars that go beyond what tuition alone can cover.
This year, we are honored to have Amanda Harry Stauffer '94 and Chuck Stauffer, proud parents of Charlie, Anna Keels, and Witt, lead a remarkable team of more than 150 dedicated parent volunteers. Their passion and hard work are essential to the success of the Country Day Fund, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions. These amazing volunteers help generate an impressive 5% of the school's annual operating budget!
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the more than 1,800 community members who have already shown their support for the Country Day Fund this year. Your generosity truly makes a difference!
If you haven't yet had the chance to participate, there's still time! (Simply click here). Although we encourage families to give before school ends and summer travel picks up, the fiscal year ends on Tuesday, June 30. Every gift, no matter the size, has a tremendous impact on our ability to provide an exceptional education for our students.