Hay Hay Pun’kin!  You Know kids GLOW!!!

Introducing the GreenRetreat Pumpkin Glow and Stroll 2009!

Dear Community Neighbor,

GreenRetreat invites you and your group to participate in the first annual GreenRetreat Pumpkin Glow!  We will be partnering with Southern Sustainability to host the Pumpkin Glow and Stroll as a fundraising event for local children’s groups.  Our first theme is, “Hay Hay Pun’kin!  You know kids GLOW!” 

Let us give you a little information and some history.  We are a 97 acre working farm on the corner of Chautauqua Rd and Hwy 127.  We are family owned and committed to becoming a community resource and providing quality environmental education programs to local groups.  Two years ago our pumpkin patch fieldtrips began with 17 kids and last October we provided fieldtrips and pumpkins for 1200 local school children!  Due to the success of last year’s programs, and requests for non-school activities, we will host the Glow and Stroll on October 23, and 24!

Our idea:  create a unique and spectacular event with the goal of helping local children’s groups raise money!   This event will be open to the public and hosted on SIU Family Weekend to assure the greatest possible number of participants!  Please review the information below and feel free to contact us.  We are looking for sponsors AND groups/schools/organizations that wish to sign up to raise funds for their programs.  Please share this letter, help us reach out to the community, and recommend this event to your favorite kids’ group.

Here are the basics:

·         Event will be hosted at GreenRetreat October 23 & 24, 2009 (Group set-up night Wednesday the 22!)

·          Gates will open at 5:30pm and close at 9:00pm

·         Admission/Raffle tickets cost $5 each.  One ticket is good for both nights & kids 12 and under get in free!

·         Event includes:  a hayride, strolling through glowing jack-o-lantern patches, a pond glow, food, fun, and a raffle with great local prizes!

·         Fundraising opportunities: 

o    $2/ticket goes back to the kids’ groups

o    Each group will receive pumpkins from GreenRetreat to carve in the days before the event.  The carved Jack-o-Lanterns will be delivered back to GreenRetreat and placed in a special “group patch” to glow each night.  Each group will provide representatives both nights to explain their activities and (on Saturday night) to SELL the Jack-o-Lanterns!  100% of these sales/donations are kept by the groups!   

·         Sponsorship Opportunities:  please call to participate and offer donations!

For more information on the GLOW, or daily fieldtrip programs, please call GreenRetreat at (618) 687-1717!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth S Robinson, Co-Owner GreenRetreat, LLC