On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending a special tree-lighting program at Christmas Tree Lane at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The School District of Lancaster is fortunate to have decorated one the trees, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Willow Valley Communities. Hand Middle School decorated the tree.
FYI, you can vote for your favorite tree through monetary donations, and all proceeds will benefit Hand students!
The tree donation is actually just a small part of the wonderful partnership between SDoL and Willow Valley.
More than 125 Willow Valley residents volunteer every week in our schools, especially at Carter & MacRae, Lafayette, King and Burrowes. They tutor students in English language arts, math and music, they are pen pals for elementary students learning to write and they form relationships with kids who need another caring adult in their lives.
Willow Valley also supports our schools financially, giving to programs like Families In Transition and College & Career Services. Over the past two years, the community’s annual cornhole competition has raised nearly $20,000 to help ensure our graduates have a smooth path to start their postsecondary educations.
Though they are just one of our many partners, Willow Valley is truly deserving of special celebration for their commitment to our mission. I hope our collaboration continues to grow with the opening of their new urban location in the heart of our community in the coming years.
Partners like Willow Valley are proof: Together we can!