Village School Gala Raises Over $1,000,000

The Village School of Naples held its fourth annual fundraising gala at an exclusive private club in Naples. The event, attended by benefactors, administrators, faculty and staff of the School, raised over $1,000,000 for The Village School, an independent Christian PK3-12 school located in Naples, FL. Chairpersons Sarah Germain, P ’26, ’30, ’32, Samantha Moran, P ’30, ’34, and Maggie Talford, P ’30, ’32, coordinated student performances by members of the Knights of Steel drum ensemble and a fantastic Broadway-themed Performing Arts medley before the evening moved into the live auction and paddle raise.

Funds raised will enable several upgrades to the track and field facility which opened last year. Highlighting those improvements are lighting for the field, allowing the School to host athletic events longer and later, as well as mobile concession and restroom units to better serve fans and families at sporting events. Head of School, Dennis Chapman, shared other plans for funds raised at Friday’s event citing improvements to the Lauren Tayon Drama Studio and additional professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

“The proceeds from the Knights on Broadway Gala will allow us to continue to improve the delivery of our academic, arts, and athletic programs. The Village School of Naples has experienced unprecedented growth in our student body (54%) over the last five years, and we will now be able to add tangible and strategic items in support of our mission. We are grateful for those who volunteered and/or gave generously to this important fundraising event.”- Dennis Chapman, Head of School

Under Dennis Chapman’s tutelage, the School has witnessed an extraordinary increase in volunteerism and total annual giving, including a 600% jump in the annual fund dollars. We are fortunate to have a committed community of parents, trustees, staff, and business partners whose incredible support is evidenced in Knights on Broadway surpassing $1,000,000. This growth parallels the growth of the institution which has seen the number of students grow from 425 in 2018 to over 600 in 2022.

“As The Village School and its families, trustees, faculty, staff and friends continue to reinvest their time, talent and treasure back into the School, we are able to more powerfully empower and inspire our students to think and create. The support from the gala and our other efforts are a tangible expression of the community’s belief in our mission.”- Jane Badger, Director of Development

The Village School Development Department will now shift its focus to the Knight Golf Classic on May 13. The event was originally scheduled for the fall of 2022 but was moved when Hurricane Ian brought its devastating impacts to Southwest Florida. Next month, golfers of all levels will hit the green for a spirited shotgun competition, all in support of the TVS Athletic Program.

Featured Photo Maggie Talford, Sarah Germain and Sam Moran

Additional Photos: Kindergarten Munchkins, Cast of Starry Starry Knights, TVS Head of School Dennis Chapman

To learn more about The Village School and support its mission, please visit www.tvsnaples.org/support.