Year End Giving Letter to the Community
- tmariepanyard
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
December 1st, 2025
Greetings friends and families, As 2025 transitions into 2026, I think with gratitude and wonder of the energy, love, kindness and support that has flowed through our Different Directions Community. The Fall term of 2025 has been a flurry of exploration: art, mitosis, DNA experiments, theoretical physics, life of cultural revolutionaries, theatre, music, mathematics, movement, bonding with new friends, reconnecting with old friends, celebrating our community and self discovery. Recently I was bringing students down to the playground, when I opened the door and saw a friend and former Different Directions mom. I instantly realized the whole family was standing in front of me, and the young man who towered over me was the same little boy who played in my classes many years ago. I was pleasantly surprised to see them as they had moved back to Japan in 2020. We hugged and laughed and talked about homeschooling, the life long connections we have and our children have made, the magic of Different Directions and bringing our community into the world. I was honored that all these years later it was in their heart to come back for a visit during their brief time in New York. My friends told stories of taking the lessons and experiences they had at Different Directions with them to Japan. How they create and organize classes, and even spoke at alternative education gatherings. I was humbled when they looked at me and said, “We are able to do what we do because of Different Directions.” I am often reminded by current and alumni parents how being a part of our community has been a life changing time for their families. In our little three room home away from home, we have created a space where communication, respect, kindness, critical thinking, following our muse, and supporting each other are key.
Different Directions Inc., a 501c3 charity, is sustained by a community that lifts us up. There are three main contributions that have kept us going since 2009: tuition from our classes, donations from families and the extraordinary work of our teachers and organizers who share their precious talents. Every year we run on a very tight budget, covering our operational costs, and paying the teachers as much as we can possibly afford. We make it work year after year. Our teachers work for compensation that rarely competes with money they could be making at other teaching outlets, often even donating their time. Different Directions continues to be a touchstone of our NYC homeschooling community. My hope this year is to be able to finally guarantee a base pay for our dedicated, gifted and stellar staff. Currently our teachers get paid based on the number of students in their class. Offering a base pay will allow us to retain the amazing staff at Different Directions and guarantee more classes can run without fear of being canceled due to low enrollment. Our goal for the 25/26 season is to raise $100,000 in addition to our current operating budget. This will enable us to establish a base pay for teachers, offer more scholarships, and continue to upgrade operations. We will be launching a fundraising campaign to raise the $100,000 through donations, grant writing, and fundraising events. Campaign details will be shared in future correspondence.
All donations are welcome with gratitude. Over the years you have helped us provide a safe space for the unique lifestyle of homeschooling to thrive, scholarships for families who are experiencing financial insecurity, and academic and artistic opportunities for young people to find their path into their future. There are more stories to be told, songs to be written, history to be explored, mountains to be mapped, friends to be made, and moments to be shared. Your year end contribution made before December 31st will help us meet our goals and continue our work bringing homeschooling families in the New York Tri-State area together, supporting them on their journey to educate and prepare their children for a healthy full life. Donations can be sent via one of the following methods
Your Different Directions family wishes you a peaceful and joyful turn of the season.
Sincerely, Tinamarie Panyard Operating Director Different Directions Inc. |
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