Willow Teal Pumpkin Party Raises Almost $2000 for FARE

On October 28th, The Willow School hosted its second annual Teal Pumpkin Spooktacular! The party drew a crowd of about 200 people who enjoyed trick-or-treating for treasures, pumpkin painting, slime making, scarecrow decorating, potion making, spooky story time, and other crafts and games. Activities were organized by Willow teachers and parents, Wee Little Arts, Toys with Love, Black Butterfly Studio, Meadowbrook Country Day Camp, and Music Together of Chester. Thanks to the generosity of the party’s attendees, we were able to raise $1,760 for Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)!

FARE works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project, which inspired our party, promotes safety, inclusion, and respect for individuals managing food allergies. This movement offers a Halloween alternative for kids with allergies, as well as other families that want to celebrate Halloween without the candy.

Willow is proud to offer a safe, inclusive environment for children with food allergies during Halloween and throughout the year. The Willow School has embraced a nut-free, allergy- and health-conscious approach since it was founded. “Hosting our annual Teal Pumpkin Halloween Party reflects our commitment to making all children feel safe and included and models the virtues of respect and responsibility which are central to our Virtues Curriculum,” said Francisco Ayala, Willow’s Head of School. “It is a way for us to make all of the individuals in our school community, and our larger community, feel supported, while having fun at the same time!”

Thank you to our partners who hosted activities, Ort Farms and Alstede Farms for donating pumpkins, and to the many volunteers who made this event possible! Mark your calendars for next year’s Teal Pumpkin Party at Willow on October 27, 2019!