The Edge School in Springbank hosted its annual Move Mountains fundraiser this week in support of several academic initiatives, including a financial aid program that seeks to alleviate the financial burden felt by many of the private school's student-athletes.
Since it began in 2017, the Move Mountains fundraiser has raised more than $406,000 toward numerous initiatives at the school, which offers training and competition for student-athletes in a variety of sports, including dance, golf, hockey, soccer, figure skating, and basketball.
“Move Mountains has been our largest fundraiser since around 2017,” said Edge CEO and Head of School Keith Taylor. “In essence, it raises money for various initiatives, including financial aid.”
According to Taylor, funds raised leading up to this year’s annual giving day on April 27 were allocated toward the school’s financial aid program and the purchase of new modes of transportation.
He added the money will be used to purchase one or more passenger vans, providing additional cargo space and room for passengers, as well as improved safety and reliability.
In previous years, the funds have been used towards updating the school’s learning commons, purchasing new equipment for their training centre, installing new water bottle filling stations, and upgrading both classroom technology and school change rooms.
Taylor added that each year, at least some money is doled out to the financial aid program, of which 30 per cent of students benefit from.
The program aims to help as many students as possible through its financial aid programming, especially where finances prove to be a barrier to their academic and athletic success.
“An important piece for the school is that we want to make this [financial aid program] available to all students, regardless of their financial situation,” he said. “So, we’ve created an endowment fund at the school, and we raise money to go into [it].
“We provide assistance to families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to attend the school."
Taylor said the school’s financial aid program has been a principal element of the school’s mission since its inception.
“The mission of the school is about building a culture of personal excellence and academics, athletics, and character,” he said. “The whole idea is making the world better by graduating students who aspire to achieve their personal best.
“And so, we want to provide that sort of well-rounded education to as many students as we possibly can. That is why the financial aid program is an important piece of who we are and what we do.”
Taylor said the student body is divided into various “Mountain Teams” in preparation for the fundraiser as part of a friendly competition to see which team can raise the most funds.
“There will be announcements throughout the day and we’re having a dunk tank as well depending on the amount of funds that are raised by a particular student or a team,” he said before April 27. “A number of staff members will be available for dunking to add a little bit of fun.”
Taylor added anybody at the Edge can donate to the Move Mountains fundraiser, whether they are a student or staff member.
“It’s through awareness that we do through our social media, but also our students and their families tapping into their networks as well,” he said.
