You can probably empathize with
Claudine
Struck, a mom of two children with a house and a
rigorous in-home business, who wanted to contribute
to the community but struggled to find free time to
do so. Her solution was to add a non-profit branch
to her children's events hosting company,
Claudine's. Whimsical Seasons was born in 2005
with the hope of fostering all children's imaginations
and encouraging their dreams through both monetary
aid and unique experiences. It has been a long and
arduous journey, but now Claudine can happily
announce the inaugural fundraising event for
Whimsical Seasons to be held June 24, and you're
invited!
Struck says, "We all want to get involved but
tend to be so busy, it's hard to find the time or
opportunity to do so. I wanted to create an event
where adults, especially parents, could come to
enjoy themselves and each other's company away
from the daily grind while also having the satisfaction
of making a difference in the community." Struck has
planned an elaborate bash to be held at her restored
1910 farmhouse in Garrison, NY. She stresses that
the goal is to have fun! The pool and sauna will
both be open, in addition to an artwalk exhibiting
local artists' work. Midnight volleyball and a CIA
prepared gourmet spread are also on the agenda.
The evening begins at 7 pm and a donation of $50 is
required per guest.
The donated funds will support the three goals of
Whimsical Seasons. Struck started the non-profit
with the idea of providing opportunities for children in
the inner city school systems-- allowing them to
travel to upstate New York and experience nature
through different mediums such as hiking, skiing, and
camping. Struck plans to purchase a permanent site
for this endeavor with the fundraising capital.
While this is her first goal, Whimsical Seasons has
also expanded in its vision to look towards creating
scholarships for high school seniors who exhibit
ambition and have dreams that can be furthered
through monetary aid. Students will have to
complete an essay detailing their hopes for their
college career which will then be selected by the
staff at Whimsical Seasons. Struck also plans on
facilitating a program where scholarship winners
would act as a mentor to other students in their
school. "So many people helped me to get where I
am today. I think it is only good karma to give back,"
Struck says.
The third and final goal of Whimsical Seasons is
one that will take several more years of planning, but
Struck is very excited about its potential. She hopes
to send students from the New York area abroad to
countries where they can experience a new culture,
reconnect with their heritage, and participate in local
service projects. Claudine knows that her aspirations
for Whimsical Seasons require a large endowment,
but she believes that success is one step at a time
and June 24 is the first step.
If you want to have a blast while helping children
to fulfill their dreams, please contact Claudine
Struck at 845-424-3306, email
claudinestruck@yahoo.com with ticket requests or
any questions, or visit
www.claudinez.com All donations are tax
deductible.
