Connecting Campus to Community at Neil Hafley

Members of the Neil Hafley Community Club meet.

Helping address student need can take a village – and at Neil Hafley Elementary School, it takes a Community Club.

Led by board members President Tammy Elder, Vice President Danielle Plass, and Treasurer Evelyn Curiel, the Neil Hafley Community Club is comprised of dedicated parents, teachers, and community members who work together with the goal of supporting students and staff at Neil Hafley.

From Left to Right: Amy Freeman, Kelly Thorpe, Danielle Plass, Tammy Elder, Evelyn Curiel. Front: John Smith

Each year the club works to raise money through a variety of events including restaurant fundraisers, Scholastic Book Fairs, and an annual Walk/Jog-A-Thon. Funds raised by the club are allocated to reimburse teachers for classroom supplies, and, as COVID restrictions allow, to sponsor field trips for students. The club has also given back to their community by helping fund science camp trips, 8th grade promotions, and miscellaneous school purchases such as new team jerseys.

When school transitioned to online learning in response to the pandemic last year, the Neil Hafley Community Club was unable to host their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Walk/JogA-Thon. However, with school back in session this fall, the Walk-Jog-A-Thon came back with a bang.

Students gathered at the Walk/Jog-A-Thon

This year the Community Club exceeded their fundraising goal of $10,000, ultimately raising a total of $20,000 to benefit their school community!

“Our biggest achievement has been our Walk/ Jog-A-Thon! We crushed it this year and we are continuing to grow,” stated Plass. “As we evolve and go on to raise more money, we will be able to provide our teachers with additional supports.”

The club’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. Neil Hafley’s Principal Lori Guzman-Alvarez works closely with the club, attending their monthly meetings and facilitating the events that they sponsor. Grateful for the work they do, she stated,

“The Neil Hafley Community Club has had a tremendous impact on supporting students and teachers. The activities they coordinate and the reimbursements they provide for teachers purchase provide the ‘extras’ that it takes to make our school an enjoyable place to be. I have been fortunate enough to get to know our Community Club members and they are amazing ladies who do so much!“

The club has created a tightly knit group dedicated to serving Neil Hafley, with one member who has even stayed after their children were promoted to high school. “We are all moms who joined the Community Club as a way to volunteer and support our children’s school, but we have grown so close over these past few years and absolutely love being able to support and provide for our community,” says Plass.

The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month after school in the library.

For more information, you can visit the Neil Hafley Community Club’s Facebook page.

Students get ready to walk, jog, and run to raise money!