Water Slides But No Summer Slides!!!

One of our incredible partners at Moulton Elementary, the Community School Coordinator, Leah Waughtal-Magiera, was excited when we told her all about our plans for Children & Family Urban Movement’s Awesome Summer Days! In the conversation, we talked about making sure we work on preventing the “Summer Slide”. Leah didn’t mean the water slides at the swimming pool we will be enjoying this summer, but rather the potential loss of incredible reading and math progress our collective Moulton and CFUM students have made this school year. By the end of spring last year, 81.3% of students showed improvement from fall reading scores, while 80% showed math improvement!

I assured Leah Awesome Summer Days will be filled with our new Lunch Bunch program, which invites individuals like you to be a mentor and friend, partnering with our CFUM kids to help bolster their reading skills. Each week will also offer English, Math, and Science tutoring in partnership with Children & Families of Iowa and The Science Center of Iowa! Additionally, emphasizing financial literacy through weekly clubs with our volunteers from Community State Bank. 

Our summer is also packed with FUN and educational adventures planned at the State Capitol, Blue Zoo, Des Moines Public Libraries, Skate South, Des Moines Art Center, and MORE! Did I mention all the swimming lessons at Birdland Pool and water slides?! All these engaging adventures lead up to our final and most exciting trip to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo sponsored by Nationwide to cap off Awesome Summer Days this year!

There are opportunities for you to help make all of this happen and ensure our kids not only avoid the summer slide, but receive the summer break they deserve through these special experiences! We need companies, individuals, and agencies to step up as sponsors to make these field trips and the wide assortment of unique activities possible! If you are reading this and would like to sponsor a field trip, give to support a child through the summer, and have a positive influence, please make a difference by making a gift of any amount today.

Every dollar you give will be matched up to $25,000 thanks to several of our extremely generous partners and friends! Please help us take full advantage of this gift and assist us in reaching our goal of $50,000 for Awesome Summer Days!

With much thanks and appreciation,

Andy J Bales, Executive Director

CFUM.org

With much thanks and appreciation,

Andy J Bales, Executive Director

CHILDREN AND FAMILY URBAN MOVEMENT

1548 8th St
Des Moines, IA 50314