Fundraising Banquet

Fundraising Banquet
The estimate for the whole project is $350,000.
In October 2009, we held a banquet at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, South Windsor, Connecticut, to raise money for the first phase of the project, which was to build a two storey block of classrooms. We invited Bishop John Danbinta to come from Gusau, Nigeria to speak at the banquet and to present his vision for Graceland International School.

One hundred and ten people attended from all over Connecticut.  Included among the attendees was a large group of expatiate Nigerians interested in helping to develop a school that would be open to all students regardless of gender, religion or ethnic background.

The menu was three courses with Chicken Cordon Bleu as the main course.

After the dinner Bishop John presented the need and vision for Graceland International School. He emphasized the fact that the school would offer equal opportunities to girls, and in a region where ethnic and sectarian tensions run high the school would build bridges of peace between these different groups.

After Bishop John’s speech, Mr. Don Ghostlaw, our board chairperson, presented the financial challenge of such a large project. He called on those present to make a 3 year pledge toward the building of the school. Once all the pledges were in we had raised $39,500. Some of the money was given as a one time gift; other money was promised over a three year period.

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