Submitted by TOGETHER!
This fall TOGETHER!’s Club House program will celebrate 20 years supporting North Thurston Public Schools’ (NTPS) students and families, including 10 years as a TOGETHER! program. Currently operated at 4 schools – Lydia Hawk Elementary, Pleasant Glade Elementary, Nisqually Middle and Chinook Middle School – TOGETHER! Club House is an out-of-school time program operating before-school, after-school, and in the summer free of charge.
Run by NTPS for a decade, the district approached TOGETHER! 11 years ago, and asked we take the lead on a competitive funding application to Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2013 due to TOGETHER!’s reputation and track record in positive youth development work. Today, nearly 20 years since it first began supporting NTPS students, Club House remains a vibrant hub of connection, support, and growth for our students & families. Delivered in English and Spanish by parent request, Club House engages youth in many activities to improve their academic and social skills. Youth learning is focused on STEAM, social and emotional development, and more. Students explore language, culture, and identity via our in-house developed ARBOL curriculum; ARBOL stands for Aprender, Raices, Biculturales, Origen, y Lenguajes. Through ARBOL, students expand their cultural awareness through educational, art, music, and more. Learn more in Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) writeup here.
As we reflect on the past decade of memories, friendships, and achievements, we are filled with gratitude for the impact Club House has had on the lives of countless students. From providing a safe and welcoming space to delivering our Bilingual Spanish language program to offering valuable resources and support services, our Club House’s impact in our communities is deep. More than just an after-school program, Club House Family Liaison staff provide case management and direct support to help families with housing, food, hygiene, employment, and more. In 20 combined years of operation, Club House has served nearly 10,000 students and families, making a profound difference in their education, wellbeing, and lives!
Bridging A Critical Gap Together Today and Tomorrow
Despite this incredible impact, Club House faces a staggering budget shortfall in the coming months. Core funding for Club House comes from OSPI. However, they will not hold an application process this year, leaving a nearly $400,000 budget gap, putting our Club House elementary program continuation in jeopardy. Committed to educational access and equity, longtime TOGETHER! partner TwinStar Community Foundation answered our call with an incredible gift of $100,000. We are deeply grateful; thanks to you, we’re well on our way toward bridging the funding gap in our Club House program in the school year ahead! While we celebrate this incredible milestone, our work is far from over. The path forward will take a village, just as the students require the love, care, and support of our broader ‘village’ to shine! That’s why we’re asking you, our community, for your support to help us bridge the financial gap with us until OSPI opens applications again next spring, so students can focus on what’s most important: being a kid, exploring their identity and culture, learning and growing, playing, and thriving!
Your gifts will:
- Ensure more than a hundred elementary students don’t to lose access to these safe, supportive spaces, connection to school, and relationships with trusted adults;
- Help low income working families have continuity of care outside of school hours;
- Provide continued intensive wrap around services including social/emotional and non-academic support such as coats and shoes, transportation, & health care access, etc.;
- Help TOGETHER! and the resilient students and families we serve to shine and thrive in a more sustainable, people-powered way, thanks to the love and strength of our amazing community!
With your help, we aim to raise $100,000 in community contributions by December 31, 2024 in celebration of Club House’s 20 incredible years, to sustain the impressive impact of Club House in the 2024-2025 school year! Make your gift today online. You can also give through Venmo (@together4kids) or PayPal (@togetherforkids), or mail a check to TOGETHER! at 1520 Irving St. SW, Ste. A Tumwater, WA 98512; please indicate ‘Club House’ or ‘Shine TOGETHER campaign’ when giving this way to be a part of this monumental community effort to ensure elementary Club House students and families aren’t left without options. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and build a brighter future!
Other Ways You Can Help
Making a financial gift isn’t the only way to help. Your continued support whether through or spreading the word about our work, or attending one of our events like Gather Together Nights, or volunteering your time, every effort you make counts and brings us closer to shared goals of making a lasting impact in our community.
About TOGETHER! Club House is a program of TOGETHER!. Since 1989, TOGETHER! has worked at the intersections of public health and education, evolving to center social and racial justice as we work to advance the health and well-being of all young people. TOGETHER! works strategically and collaboratively to achieve a vision that all young people are supported, safe and valued, and to advance educational justice and healing. TOGETHER!’s programs are an extension of our values of equity, community, and systems change. To learn more visit
You can also give through Venmo (@together4kids) or PayPal (@togetherforkids), or mail a check to TOGETHER! at 1520 Irving St. SW, Ste. A Tumwater, WA 98512; please indicate ‘Club House’ or ‘Shine TOGETHER campaign’ when giving this way to be a part of this monumental community effort to ensure elementary Club House students and families aren’t left without options. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and build a brighter future! To learn more visit the TOGETHER website, Instagram and Facebook pages.
