Jump right in! Scroll down the page to find the Sunflower Easter eggs (extra videos, expanded interviews and other goodies) sprinkled throughout this online version of our Annual Report. Thanks for all you do to help Sunflower empower children to be confident, creative and compassionate through Play, Nature and the Arts.
Last year was Sunflower’s first in our new Delray home.
Sunflower officially opened for classes in Delray on Aug. 24, 2015, after a whirlwind of months filled with construction and inspections, setbacks and surprises, unbelievable help coming our way from all directions, and encouragement and delight from our longtime friends both far and near.
With our new home came a stronger voice advocating for Learning Through Experience and for Play + Nature + Art for all children, as well as the opportunity to directly impact the lives of so many more families.
Looking back, I’m not sure any of us understood the work and risks we were taking on when we first started this journey– or could imagine how truly fulfilling and joyful our first year would turn out to be. That very first day last August– in fact, all of last year– felt like a dream coming true. Even today, parents see the space and cry, or smile with delight. Kids take off running up and down our hills and along our paths. We feel beyond blessed.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for all you’ve done to make this magical space– Sunflower’s home– a reality.
From Jennifer Ligeti, President, Sunflower Creative Arts Board of Directors
This house was meant to be.
When it was time for the McMurrain family, former owners of 227 N Dixie Blvd., to sell their beloved family home, they waited. They could have sold it to others, and likely for more money. But their mother loved children, and when Sunflower came along– they chose us.
It was meant to be.
There’s a story, that when Susan arrived on the very first morning of the very first day of Seedlings in Sunflower’s new home, she was greeted by a hummingbird outside the front door. A little vibrating sliver of play and joy and promise that exactly matched the excitement in her own heart that day.
It was meant to be.
And then you arrived… and the real magic started to happen. Because the truth is, this house, lovely as it is, would not be a home without you. Your generous donations of money and time (given on the scale of thousands of volunteer hours– as parent helpers, event organizers and in countless other ways) make everything Sunflower does possible.
You dressed Sunflower’s playscape in greenery and the children in superhero capes. Last year your support made a difference in the lives of 194 families in Sunflower programs, plus hundreds more through free community events like Gather in the Garden monthly potlucks, Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside!) family nature exploration, BYOPicnic to the Beach, and the annual Ice Castle Festival & Play Day.
You set the stage and gave Sunflower the resources to empower children to be confident, creative and compassionate through Play, Nature and the Arts.
So, as the song says,
“Wherever you’re from, we’re glad that you’ve come.”
It wouldn’t be home without you.
So, as the song says,
“Wherever you’re from, we’re glad that you’ve come.”
It wouldn’t be home without you.
“Sunflower is such an amazing place for children. All college students need to observe the children and see what type of learning, and how much learning, is taking place through play. It is truly a one-of-a-kind environment that all children should have the opportunity to be part of.”
–Kelly A. Burlison, Ed.D, Elementary Education Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Lynn University/Ross College of Education
“Sunflower is such an amazing place for children. All college students need to observe the children and see what type of learning, and how much learning, is taking place through play. It is truly a one-of-a-kind environment that all children should have the opportunity to be part of.”
–Kelly A. Burlison, Ed.D, Elementary Education Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Lynn University/Ross College of Education
YOU brought Sunflower programs to more children and families. Because of your support, Sunflower directly impacted an unprecedented number of children and families. That means double the opportunities for children ages two to six to experience Sunflower programs, including Seedlings Preschool, Little Seedlings and the brand new Seedlings Summer Camp, as well as expanded offerings, like Play + Nature + Art Summer Camp, for “big kids,” ages six to nine.
YOU helped spread the Sunflower model to local educators. Your support helped Sunflower spread the play = learning message to student observers from Lynn University College of Education, exposing future teachers to an alternative and proven education model. You also made possible Sunflower’s workshop at Learn Green ’15, Florida’s Green School Conference, last November, showing public and private K-12 teachers how to integrate Play + Nature + Art into their classes.
YOU gave Sunflower a new home – and our whole community greater access to Sunflower.
This home enables Sunflower to impact and serve more families now, and provides a stable base that can act as a launching pad for the future.
The leap forward Sunflower’s new home enabled is reflected in our financial data. Over the past two years, Sunflower’s operating budget nearly doubled as we expanded programs to serve a growing number of families. Seedlings enrollment increased from 25 children to 40 children in 2014/15 to 70 children last year. During that same time, our new transitional program, Little Seedlings, allowed Sunflower to bring Play + Nature + Art to an additional 36 families with two- to three-year-olds, and we began a Summer Camp program that served an additional 90 children in June 2016 alone.
Program: $306,752
Donations & Fundraising: $89,958
Total Operating Income: $396,710
Program: $ 308,251
Administrative: $ 41,492
Fundraising: $ 29,429
Total Operating Expenses: $ 379,173
Program: $306,752
Donations & Fundraising: $89,958
Total Operating Income: $396,710
Program: $ 308,251
Administrative: $ 41,492
Fundraising: $ 29,429
Total Operating Expenses: $ 379,173
Reviewed statement and all financial documents are available at www.guidestar.org.
“I love Sunflower because it celebrates the child’s innate ability to learn through creativity and play, because it respects, honors and empowers each young soul that passes through its doors and because it teaches parents and their children how to find solutions to the problems of the world.”
–Shelly Zacks, Founder & Director, Delray Beach Children’s Garden and former Seedlings teacher
“I love Sunflower because it celebrates the child’s innate ability to learn through creativity and play, because it respects, honors and empowers each young soul that passes through its doors and because it teaches parents and their children how to find solutions to the problems of the world.”
–Shelly Zacks, Founder & Director, Delray Beach Children’s Garden and former Seedlings teacher
“I love Sunflower for the dedicated teachers, the learning environment that it offers for both parents and children, and for its principal philosophy. When you experience Sunflower and all that it represents and offers, like my family has, you will always be a Sunflower family. Even when your children have grown up, it will always be a part of you”
–Jesse England, Sunflower dad and Chair, Capital Campaign Committee
“I love Sunflower for the dedicated teachers, the learning environment that it offers for both parents and children, and for its principal philosophy. When you experience Sunflower and all that it represents and offers, like my family has, you will always be a Sunflower family. Even when your children have grown up, it will always be a part of you”
–Jesse England, Sunflower dad and Chair, Capital Campaign Committee
Your generous donations to the Sunflower Scholarship Fund ensure our programs remain affordable and available to more members of the community. Last year you helped raise $16,141 for need-based scholarships. Your gifts directly impact the next generation of Sunflower families. Thank you!
“At Sunflower, my daughter was given as much time and space as she needed. No one hurried her, judged her, persuaded her or made her participate. She did this on her own when she was ready, when she chose to, and that made all the difference to her.”
–Jennifer Zoole, Sunflower mom to Audrey, age 4
“At Sunflower, my daughter was given as much time and space as she needed. No one hurried her, judged her, persuaded her or made her participate. She did this on her own when she was ready, when she chose to, and that made all the difference to her.”
–Jennifer Zoole, Sunflower mom to Audrey, age 4
Hop, Skip & a Jump-A-Thon. In March, nearly 300 donors combined to raise $17,275 in support of Sunflower’s Play + Nature + Art programs, and over 60 families – 240 people – took part in the playful walkathon at Rutherford Park in Boca Raton. This outpouring of support for Play + Nature + Art education is truly inspiring!
Members of Roots & Shoots, Sunflower’s free after-school club, continued their partnership with the Delray Beach Children’s Garden, helping to nurture the garden with a yearlong service project.
Last year, the Home for Sunflower Capital Campaign welcomed new committee members, raised funds to match a $60,000 challenge grant and excited donors with the idea of whimsical and personal naming opportunities. Capital gifts allow us to become an even more impactful and valuable community resource. Thank you to all who have supported this important goal so far!
Total Project Expenses: $1,371,971
Capital Campaign Goal: $1,000,000
Money Raised To Date: $345,928 (including donations, pledges and grants)
Amy and Edgar An * |
Keith Backer |
Sharon and Scott Baker |
Mark and Kim Bauer * |
Jill and Walter Baum |
Stacy Brown and Steve Goldner |
Mike Budd |
Ileen P. Carter |
Angelo Caruso |
Steven Caruso |
Susan Caruso * |
Danielle Casale |
Carlee Cohen and Jeremy Barr |
Mary L. Cohn |
Nikki and Daniel Dean * |
Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency * |
Kerri and Steve Deitsch |
Jeanette and Dr. Mark Denker |
Suzanne Deutch |
Dockerty Romer & Co |
Susan and David Dubbin * |
Stephanie and Aubrey Dunham |
Wynna and Gary Dunmyer |
Carmen and John Edelson * |
Dionne Ekendiz |
Meredith and Jesse England * |
Karen and Bill Epstein and family * |
Ilana Foglia (in memory of her mother, Ginny Moro) |
Rebecca Follo and J. Thomas Bentley |
Barbara Fuller Powers |
Kate and Chris George * |
Lisa and Michael Glas |
Glidden Spina and Partners |
Connie and Barry Gluck |
Victoria and Vince Green * |
Margaret and William Greenfield * |
Kristin Harkness * |
Astrea Hupfel |
Angela and Dante Ionata * |
Sylvia and Michael Jameson * |
Rosemary Justice |
Patricia and Paul Kilgallon * |
Candy and Martin Kopczak |
Marcia Lazar * |
Le Petit Prince |
Luciana and Eran Levy |
Beth and Steve Licht * |
Jennifer and George Ligeti * |
Martin Lipschultz * |
Little Seedlings Class of 2014-15 |
Tayler Mariner and Martin Lee |
Thomas and Denise McMurrain * |
Lora and Jim McCoy |
Kirsten McKeen |
Saskia Meckman and Fares Khalidi * |
Mendelson Consulting |
Natalie Mitchell * |
Katie and John Murphy * |
Nationwide Interpreter Resource, Inc. |
Native Choice Nursery * |
Native Green Cay Nursery |
Rosario and Ernest Orphanos |
Michele and Tom Peel * |
Meade Peers McCoy * |
Charlotte Pelton & Associates, Inc * |
Gretchen Perry and Rick Leger * |
Virginia Perz |
Evan Phalon |
Ami Polonsky |
Helena Redman |
Emma Risley and Scott Schereschewsky |
Dany Schaper |
Ilysia Shattuck and Stephen Charbonneau * |
Sue and Bob Shattuck * |
Shauna of the Star |
Ellen and Marshall Stone |
Laura and Mark Swauger * |
Dorota Szladewska and Ernesto Salas |
Elisabeth and Ken Teelucksingh * |
Christine Templeton |
Sharon Rosenthal and Roy Trachtenberg |
Maria and Manuel Vergara * |
Patricia Werhahn and Richard Viens * |
“I support Sunflower with an automatic monthly donation because it’s an easy way for me to help sustain what I believe in. My small monthly donation is valuable to Sunflower because it’s there for them each month. A few extra dollars helps staff buy art supplies or something special for the playscape– and I feel good about being able to make this happen in my own small way.”
–Lora McCoy, Sunflower Board Member and former Seedlings parent
Valerie Bell |
Jennifer and Lawrence Burke |
Susan Caruso |
Simone Chin and Mahesh Neelakanta |
Shannon and Frank Cid |
Genevieve and Shawn Cipes |
Paula and Dennis Cohen |
Carlee Cohen and Jeremy Barr |
Meryl Davids and Gary Landau |
Joyce Doppelt |
Natalie Ewing |
Barbara Feehan |
Vanessa Gimpel |
Astrea Hupfel |
Lynn Jones |
Elisa and Alan Leavitt |
Martin Lipschultz |
Tayler Mariner and Martin Lee |
Lora and Jim McCoy |
Barbara Miles |
Lillian Murray |
Lenore Odendaal |
Joan and Robert Pleasants |
Lia Schultz and Tyrone Halfhill |
Anna Sullivan |
Tanil and Trey Tidwell |
Batya Weisskoff |
Leanne Adair |
Patricia Adams |
Judith and Andrew Adelson |
Danielle Ahles |
Rob and Carrie Ahles |
Natasha and Justin Ahles |
Aaron and Stephanie Alderfer |
Lisa and Steven Aliperta |
Cassie Allen |
Jennifer Alvarez |
Amazon Smile (Thanks to all who participate!) |
Ames International Architecture |
Amy and Edgar An |
Marion and David Anderson |
Skye Anderson |
Angela Andreadis |
Chris and Vaso Andreadis |
Dean and Kathy Andreadis |
Demetri and Christine Andreadis |
Samara and Peter Andreadis |
Lauren Andrews |
Anonymous (9) |
Vivian M. Araujo |
Maria and Kourdsh Askari |
Kelly Austen |
Jonathan Avidan |
June B. Backer |
Katheryn and Bryan Baker |
Victoria and Ken Barnett |
Michelle and Patrick Barrett |
Dana Bathurst |
Danielle and Thomas Baugh |
Brandi Beane |
Maureen Becker |
Mary Ellen Becker and Bruce Hurley |
Tina Bell |
Robert Bender |
Benny’s On The Beach |
Scott Berge |
Doris Berge |
Paula Betancur |
The Billings Family |
Jason Boor |
Callie and Matthew Bosch |
Dan Bradley |
Mr. Mervyn Bradley |
Mrs. Linda Bradley |
Janet Branch |
Tracy and Bill Branning |
Howard Bregman, Marcus and Millichap |
Teri and Jason Brick |
Bridges, Marsh and Associates, Inc. |
Pamela Brown |
Stacy Brown and Steve Goldner |
Bruder/Ritter Family |
Carol Brzozowski |
Christine Buchan |
Matt Buchholz |
Vanessa Buck |
Danielle Bunker and Robert Rotondo |
Dilcia Burgos and Joshua Borthwick |
Jannick Burkhardt |
Marybeth Busby |
Diana and Alan Bush |
Mary and Bob Cadwell |
California Pizza Kitchen |
Lisa Camp and Campbell Tellman |
Susan Campbell |
Brian Carr and Bruce Creager |
Carter Boyle Family |
Ileen Carter |
Kelly Carter-Smock |
Eleni and John Chalvadakis |
David Chapman |
Dorothy Charbonneau |
Barbara and Bryan Chester |
Toni Chin |
Kim A Chin |
Selina and Hernando Chong |
Velvet and Chris Chong |
Gaetano Cipriano |
Lori and Nicolas Cleary |
Ashley Coey |
Marcela Colina |
Shayna Collins |
Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties – Great Give Match |
Kara Cowley |
Donald Cramer |
Doug Creager |
Corinne Creager |
Adriana Crisan and Steven Burstein |
Chris and Teresa Cummings |
Kaysha S. Cushing |
Cecilia and Brian Dan |
Patricia Danias Simonyan |
Diana Davidson |
Michelle Daykin |
Carol Deaktor |
Linda B. Dean and S. Turner Dean |
Delivery Dudes |
Vivian Demille |
Heidi and Eric Dettinger |
Michelle Dias |
Michelle Diaz and Terri Finnigan |
Maureen Diaz |
Bob and Marcia DiChristopher |
Jenna and Adam Dickensheet |
Shannon and David DiPierro |
Lynn Dolan |
Jenny Doyle |
Andrea Doyle |
Susan and David Dubbin |
Brent Dudley |
Kimberly and Jeremy Dudley |
Shye Elgart |
Meredith and Jesse England |
Bill and Karen Epstein |
Lenny Evans |
Scott Ferguson |
Marie Finn |
Elaina Fischer |
Claudia and Jeff Flamm |
Stephen Foelster and Maryellen Grysewicz |
Finn and Hunter Force |
Frank, Weinberg and Black, P.L. |
Melissa Franklin |
Joseph R. Gaglianello |
Mary L. Gaglianello |
Marilyn Gaglianello |
Joe Gaglianello and Erin Stockard |
Milly and Parrish Gamarra |
Suzy Anand Garfinkle |
Barkley and Amy Garnsey |
Allison and Samson Garvin |
Cecilia and Ron Geraci |
Deidre Geraci |
The Gerald Family |
Annette and Jason Gerlitz Appel |
William T Gerrard |
Darcy Gerrard |
Christa and Mark Gerrard |
Cole Gerstl |
Amy Wright Glenn |
Connie and Barry Gluck |
Greg Gomes |
Bryanne Gordon |
Ursula Gottschalk |
Sara Grabowski |
Ileana Grau |
Victoria and Vince Green |
Nathan Greenberg |
Brett, Jaime, Suzie and Sierra Greenberg |
Marlene and Burton Greene |
Amy Greene |
Julia P Haensel |
Barbara J Haensel |
Stacey Hallberg |
Jason and Kristi Hane |
Colleen Haney |
Alexis, Lindsay and Brooke Hanlon |
Kathy Hanlon |
Dennis Hanlon and Sandra Hogan |
The Jon Hanlon Family |
Amy Hanlon |
Tiffany and Jeremy Hanlon |
Kristin Harkness |
Rosie and Josh Harris |
Rebecca and Mark Harvey |
Derin Hayes |
Jessica Helmer |
HavreDe Hill and Joseph Patton |
Veronica Hirsch and Bryant Smith |
Stephanie Holmes |
Sharon and Richard Holt |
Duncan Hossack |
Heather and Michael Houston |
Xiao Ling Huang |
Chris and Linda Hugues |
Chrissy and Jeff Hunt |
David Huntt |
Daric Huntt |
Glenda Hurtado-Vo and Quang Vo |
Kerry Inaganti |
Arnold and Shelia James |
Chantal Jensen |
Heather Jensen |
Dana Johnson |
Patricia Jones |
Linda and Otis Jones |
The Kahn Family |
Roger Kalina |
Joel and Larae Kattermann |
Jill Adrian Kay and Stefano Papaleo |
Crosby Kayne |
Julie Kelly and Barry Goldman |
Kenney Girls |
Ray Kenney and Nancy Zoole Kenney |
Kristine and Harry Keshishian |
Robin Klein |
Allison and Gregory Koslowski |
Kelsie Kotzur |
Doug Koval |
Diana LaCarubba |
Peter and Susan Lampl |
John, Bridget and Eric Langford |
Stephanie Lanpehar |
Tracy Laux |
Brooke and Mike Lavelle |
Le Petit Prince The French School of Boca Raton |
Katherine LeNeave |
Beth and Steve Licht |
Jennifer and George Ligeti |
Lighthouse Point Fitness |
Jacque Lima |
Livingston Family |
Matthew and Jennifer Lombardi |
Giuseppe and Rita Lombardo |
John Lombardo |
Karen Lopera |
Jessica Lopera and Michael Foelster |
Beatriz Lorenz |
Jennifer Low |
Pamela and Jeffrey Lucia |
Crystal and Michael MacLean |
Daniel Madden |
Blake Malatesta |
Jaime Mannino |
Vicki Marino |
Leslie Martorano |
Danielle and Ashley Mastrogiovanni |
John McClaskie |
Mary Ann and Richard McDaniel |
Jessica and Brian McDeavitt |
Hannah McFadden |
Beth Mcleod |
Patty R McLeod |
Ivette and Drew McMullen |
C McShane |
Saskia Meckman and Fares Khalidi |
M. Carmen Meckman |
Maria Meckman |
Brenda Medore |
Nicole Mezoff |
Inna Mikhaylova and Dmitry Mogilyansky |
Carolyn Miller |
The Mirsky family |
Raquel and Patryk Molczan |
Natalia Monahan |
Mike Monahan |
Sandra Moncayo |
Mia and James Moore |
Carmen Morales |
Ricardo Moreno |
Mother Earth Diaper Service |
Michael Mouw |
Richard and Ellen Mouw |
Kristi and Chris Moyer |
Courtney Mullen-Francisco and David Francisco |
Herb Murata |
Perambur S. Neelakanta |
Julie and Jim Nicholas |
Billy and Charlene Nikolakopoulos |
Joy and Michael Nissley |
Minerva Nunez |
Nicole Oakerson |
Maxine Ofsowitz |
Judi and Michael Ohanian |
John and Joy Olson |
Debra and Hein Onkenhout |
Janine and Jared Opper |
Organic Movements Dance School |
Laura and Bill Owen |
Wayne Paglieri |
Chuck Papp |
Paradise Bank |
Colleen and Richard Paul-Hus |
Keith, Cherrise, Reef, and River Pawlak |
Mr. and Mrs. Andres Pedroso |
Meade Peers McCoy |
Dylan Peers McCoy |
Liliana Pennington |
Christine Perretta |
Gretchen Perry and Rick Leger |
The Petersen Family |
Joseph Pettit |
Casey and Sean Philbrick |
Victoria and Peter Philip |
Barbara and Rick Powers |
Shelly and Peter Preziosi |
Paula Proetto |
Debra Pudder |
Sara Rafferty |
Diana Randazzo |
Jim and Linda Ray |
RedSteel Properties |
Jennifer Reilly |
Phillip Rich |
B Riddick |
Paul Ringon |
Nathan Roberson |
Katia and Jorge Rodrigues |
Rebecca Rojas |
Lisa and Craig Romer |
Courtney Roog |
Arin and Jeffrey Roos |
Rosemary Rosas |
Cali Rose |
Kay Roseo |
Jo Ann and John Roseo |
Audra and Roberto Rovegno |
Amanda and Ryan Roy |
Sharon Rudnitsky |
Dana Rueter |
Sagely Willow Massage and Bodywork |
Courtney Salamone and Joseph Snider |
Wendy Salpeter – Luxury Mortgage |
TL Saraniti |
Patricia and Robert Schaaf |
Dany Schaper |
The Schereschewsky Family |
Ann Schneider |
Tara and Cass Schreiber |
Elan Schrier |
Schrier Family Chiropractic |
Kathy and Spence Seery |
Tricia and Bill Seery |
Kelli Seibold and Jeremy Seibold |
The Seigfreid Family |
Elizabeth Selya |
Steve and Karan Seneca |
Nicole and Michael Seneca |
Michele Service |
Mario Shannon |
Sue and Bob Shattuck |
Ilysia Shattuck and Stephen Charbonneau |
Tanya and Jason Shattuck |
Sasha and Ian Shtulman |
Shtulman Family Chiropractic |
Frank and Nicole Shulman |
Valerie Silidker and Jay Flanzbaum |
Marilyn L. Simeon |
Adena Simmons |
Adam and Andrea Smith |
Cynthia and David Smith |
Claranne Smith |
Denae Smock |
Cynthia Sossei |
South Florida Air Conditioning |
Jenifer Sparrell |
Cindy and Alan Sperling |
Jenny and Tom Stancampiano |
Jarin Stanford |
Thomas and Kirsten Stanley |
The Steins |
Lexi Stern and Hayden Nasir, Evolution Salt |
Ellen and Marshall Stone |
Margaret and David Stone |
Strategic Funding Source |
Studio Sprout |
Dorota Szladewska and Ernesto Salas |
Cheryl Tancer |
Nick Tatge |
Tara and Austin Taylor |
Elisabeth and Ken Teelucksingh |
Claire Teller |
The Velvet Lotus |
Amanda Thomason |
Randi Tobman |
Angela Towne and Gus Martinez |
Luz E Trevino |
Michael Umlauf |
Veleanu Family |
Marjorie and Dick Viens |
Erika and Victor Villalobos |
Carol and Michael Vogt |
Andy Walker |
Rona Walters |
Connie and Ted Walters |
Natasha Watkinson |
Janice Watson |
Katrina Weber |
Amy and Neal Weisman |
Neal Weisman, MD |
Daria Wels and Daniel McNalis |
Patricia Werhahn and Richard Viens |
Beatrice Werhahn |
Geraldine Werhahn |
Lee and Charlie Williams |
Leanore and Charles Williams |
Kristie Wilson |
David Wilusz |
Gertrude and Theodore Winsberg |
Tehmina and Erik Wytenus |
Bettina Young |
The Zacks Family |
Sue and Jon Zoole |
Jennifer and Peter Zoole |
Jennifer Ligeti, President
Dr. Edgar An, PhD, Vice President
Tayler Mariner, Treasurer
Susan Dubbin, Secretary
Susan Caruso, Executive Director
Gary R. Dunmyer
William L. Epstein
Lora Peers McCoy
Susan Caruso, Founder/Director
Jaime Greenberg, Communications Director
Meade Peers McCoy, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives
Ilysia Shattuck, Operations and Development Director
Dorota Szladewska, Financial Director
Sunflower Creative Arts, Inc. is a 501c3 organization, which provides its services and benefits to children and families without regard to race, color, nationality, religion, gender or ethnic origin. Childcare License #50-51-1611005
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