Creative Montessori surpasses fundraising goal for new preschool building

At a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 3, Creative Montessori School announced that it had raised $2,825,000 in a capital campaign to build a preschool building, dining hall, administrative building and community room. The school’s original fundraising goal was $2.35 million.

Campaign co-chair and CMS parent Brooke Coleman said the success of the campaign was due to 100 percent donation commitments from the CMS staff and board members, as well as around 200 other donors. Several organizations, including the Hugh Kaul Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, also donated. Students raised a total of $1,655.

CMS finished its campaign about six months ahead of schedule, Coleman said, due to a lot of work from staff, board members and involved parents and alumni.

Mayor Scott McBrayer, City Chief of Staff J.J. Bischoff and Ward 1 Representative Britt Thames were at the groundbreaking. The mayor expressed his support of the project to the crowd and thanked CMS for choosing to stay in Homewood.

“The city of Homewood has always attracted good quality people,” McBrayer said. “What an influence you have on young people. Don’t forget it and don’t take it for granted.”

CMS currently has over 200 students from around the area. The school was started in 1968, and one of the founders, Barbara Spitzer, was at the groundbreaking. Coleman and Executive Director Greg Smith both thanked her for her continued support of the Montessori School. The location has been named the Barbara R. Spitzer Campus in her honor.

The students at CMS were gathered in yellow hard hats to watch the groundbreaking, and sixth grade students were chosen to hand the golden shovels to those participating in the ceremony.

To learn more about Creative Montessori School, visit cmskids.org.