Light The Way — The Skola

A $300,000 Matching Campaign to Secure the Future of The Skola

Light the Way is an invitation to strengthen the foundation beneath everything that happens at The Skola and our community answered with extraordinary generosity.

Together, supporters rallied to fully meet the $300,000 dollar-for-dollar match and unlock an additional $100,000 leadership gift, resulting in more than $708,000 raised in support of The Skola’s future.

Because of this collective investment, The Skola is better positioned to ensure long-term stability, campus safety, and sustainability for the students, teachers, and families who make this community so special. This milestone reflects what is possible when people come together in support of meaningful, connected education.

We are deeply grateful to every family, donor, advocate, and friend who helped light the way forward.

Light the Way represents a pivotal moment for The Skola, shaped by both generosity and thoughtful stewardship.

In 2024, The Skola received the extraordinary gift of its permanent campus, securing a long-term home for learning in this community. Since then, the school has invested more than $350,000 to make that gift usable and safe for students through required infrastructure improvements, including access, classroom upgrades, and essential safety systems. These investments made it possible for The Skola to open and operate fully, though some of this work required taking on debt.

In late 2025, two community members, Steve Lull and Brogan Thomsen, stepped forward with an extraordinary act of belief in The Skola. Though they had no prior connection to the school, they were deeply moved by its mission, its students, and the kind of learning that unfolds here each day. Together, they committed $300,000 and issued a powerful challenge to our community: every dollar donated will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $300,000.

Their gift recognizes both where The Skola has come from and what is possible next. Light the Way allows the school to complete remaining infrastructure needs, retire remaining debt tied to campus systems, and move fully into long-term sustainability. With these systems secured, The Skola can focus forward on what matters most: exceptional teachers, intentionally small classes, and a nature-based education that honors childhood.

Why Light The Way Matters

Building A Secure Foundation

In 2024, Skola received the extraordinary gift of its permanent campus, securing a long-term home and anchoring the school’s future in this community.

Since then, Skola has invested $350,000 to make that gift usable and safe for students through required improvements. Supported in part through responsible debt, these investments made it possible for Skola to open and operate as a fully functioning school.

This $600,000 campaign completes that work by retiring remaining infrastructure debt and finalizing essential campus systems required to meet county and public school standards, including:

$150,000 for septic system improvements
$60,000 for water system upgrades
$40,000 for power and electrical upgrades

Completing these systems ensures the campus can operate safely, reliably, and without interruption.

At the same time, Light the Way strengthens Skola’s core operations by supporting the people and programs that make learning possible every day.

Together, this investment allows Skola to provide:

Stability that allows children to feel safe, seen, and supported
Intentionally small classes and attuned teachers who know each child deeply
A forward-thinking curriculum that honors curiosity, creativity, and individualized learning
Critical systems that support daily operations, including campus infrastructure, educator salaries, and programmatic investments
A permanent home where nature and learning belong together
A future shaped with intention and care