At Children’s Community School, “Community” is in our name for a reason—it is the heartbeat of our school and the driving force behind the inclusion and respect we model for our children every day.
I want to extend a profound thank you to our entire community for supporting CCS by generously contributing both your time and your donations. We deeply value our family members, students, and trustees—both past and present—who collectively make CCS such a special, vibrant place to grow.
From the Community Fund, to the Pan Derby, the Celebrate CCS Gala, and the Neal Wrightson Endowment for Financial Aid, as well as Party Books and Restaurant Nights-every gift is meaningful, directly impacting our students today while securing the foundation for those of tomorrow. While financial contributions are essential to our success and an integral part of this annual report, we recognize that our school’s health is sustained by the myriad of ways you show up for us.
I am so grateful for the joyful, dedicated ways our community shows up to support one another and ensure the continued success of our school. Thank you!
Azizi Williams
Head of School
The Community Fund is the heart of Children’s Community School’s philanthropic efforts in which every family is asked to provide an annual donation to the school. Our goal is to achieve 100% participation from our current families, faculty, staff, and board, and we also seek support from grandparents, alumni, and their families. Donations are directly funneled into the current year’s operating budget where they create much of the magic that exists on our campus.
Donors have the option to direct funds towards the following areas:
Fund Our Faculty
Fund Our Facility
Fund Our Arts
Fund our Innovation
Fund or Belonging
Fund Our Financial Aid
Or donors can fund the area of greatest need.
Below are a few examples of programs supported by the funds raised:
In 2024-25, the CCS faculty flew to Columbus, Ohio to participate in the Progressive Education Network Conference. Faculty visited schools, heard from speakers on progressive pedagogy and made connections with faculty from across the country. In addition, some faculty members attended a training on project-based learning and documenting student work at High Tech High in San Diego. These visits sparked ideas and conversations that impacted the program at CCS.
CCS invested in its infrastructure by updating air conditioning units, installing a visitor screening security system, and updating the floors in the middle yard classrooms.
Special guest artists were invited to share their talents with CCS students in 2024-25. Gerald Rivers, along with his colleagues and the Peace Players Drummers, performed and shared about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The 2045-25 admissions season resulted in the largest fiscal commitment to financial aid in CCS’s history. Over 42 % of our students receive some amount of tuition assistance, and we granted over $1.2 million in financial aid to affirm our dedication to economic diversity.
Each leaf on our Giving Tree represents one Community Fund donor family.
Truly every gift to the Fund- no matter the size- has an impact on our school. If you take just one out, the picture would not be complete.
The Class of 2024 Matriculated to:
Chaminade
Fusion Academy
Harvard-Westlake
Oakwood
The School of Los Angeles (SLA)
Sequoyah
Viewpoint
Walter Reed
Waverly
Wesley
As an alumni parent and committed supporter of progressive education, it has been my sincere honor and pleasure to continue to serve as Chair of the Board for Children’s Community School. Throughout its 40+ year history, CCS has expanded its footprint, overcome challenges, and most of all, prioritized education for democracy. Despite the ebbs and flows of the world around us, our community remains steadfast and strong.
The Board of Directors volunteers tirelessly on behalf of the school to ensure that we are always exploring new ways to further CCS’ reach and strengthen its foundation. It is purposeful, invigorating work, primarily because we know we are working in concert with a dedicated faculty, staff, and parent community that gives of themselves just as comprehensively.
This year’s Book of Gratitude explores all the ways that giving is part of our culture, and is the key aspect that confirms our future. On behalf of the board, thank you for all that you have dedicated to Children’s Community School this past year.
Wendy Wallace
Chair, Board of Trustees
Elizabeth Camacho
Francesca Fartaj
Angela Goss
Jay Goss, Treasurer
Tom Henschel
Michael Lee
Kostas Sgoutas Vice Chair
Irene Tsatsos
Bert Voorhees
Wendy Wallace Chair
Tré Wright
Alejandra Zamorano
CCS’s financials are audited annually by a certified CPA firm. The fiscal year began on September 1, 2023 to align with the academic school year and concluded on August 31, 2024.