In partnership with the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s Classroom Connection Program partners, several businesses banded together to provide the students at John G. Riley Elementary an opportunity to experience a little taste of Tallahassee.
The majority of Riley students have never experienced our town outside of their own 32304 zip code, have never been on a field trip, have never seen wild animals up close, and have never done outdoor activities like walking through a blooming garden of vegetables. Experiences many of us take for granted.
Lauren Helm with MillCreek Financial Consultants brought this idea to life at a Leadership Tallahassee event alongside Rebekka Wade (Tallahassee Museum) and Shannon C. Smith (Moore). While this did not eradicate the poverty and housing insecurities for these little Bears, it did give them a huge dose of joy and wonder from caring community partners.
A huge shoutout to all that made it happen:
– Tallahassee Museum’s Rebekka Wade and Kathryn Frost helped alleviate the burden of admission cost, gave each student a Museum goodie bag to take home that included complimentary admission tickets, and had a great lunch ready for 100 students.
– The Moore Agency for splitting the bus fee with MillCreek Financial Consultants, and for lending additional chaperones to ride the bus.
– Ausley McMullen for providing a cooler and bottled water for each student, as well as loaning the lovely Peggy Smith as a chaperone.
– Merrill Lynch Wealth Management for covering the cost of lunch and programming for all who attended.
– Dana and Verlonda with the Chamber for coming to our aid when we needed additional chaperones.
– GroundOps Roastery + Bakehouse for providing delicious cookies for the bus ride back to school.
This is proof that it really does take a village, and the partners are so grateful for each and every person who made this field trip possible.
