Contact information for Wilder Foundation
Board Chair: Judy Kishel, jakishel@comcast.net
Executive Director: Armando Camacho, armando.camacho@wilder.org 

September xx, 2022

Board of Directors
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation 
451 Lexington Parkway North
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

Dear Wilder Foundation Board Members:

I am writing today to request your support to help River Grove continue as a community school.

We live in [city] and have X children who attend River Grove in grades X. 

Include information here about why your family loves River Grove. 
Speak from the heart and in your own words but be polite. 
For example:

We fell in love with River Grove the moment we first set foot on campus at the Wilder Forest property in 2017. Though the buildings were old and musty and rooms still filled with bunk beds, we were entranced by the towering pines, nearby farm, and ample space for children to learn and explore in nature. 
As an environmental educator, I know that there is ample research demonstrating the benefits of outdoor education and time spent in nature for student’s academic achievement, as well as their physical and mental health. My son is bright, kind-hearted, and enthusiastic about learning, but he is also full of movement and energy. Based on our preschool experience, I worried that he would struggle in a traditional school environment. At River Grove, however, he has flourished. 
At River Grove, my son learns reading, history, science, and math, but he has also developed his creativity and problem-solving skills. Our school’s outdoor and project-based learning model helps to keep him engaged and allows him to move his body during the day instead of struggling to sit still. It is also important to me that River Grove is a public charter school that is free and open to everyone. We are big supporters of public education and hope that River Grove will continue to be a place where everyone can learn, thrive, and experience the beauty of nature. 
As a charitable foundation whose mission is to improve people’s lives and well-being, I ask that you prioritize community and children over profits. It feels unkind and underhanded to sell the land where our school is located mere months before we can legally purchase it ourselves. 
If the proposed sale of Wilder Forest to an outside buyer moves forward, it will be devastating to our school and the larger community. Please do the right thing and work to find a better solution. 

Sincerely, 
Your name
Your contact information