VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Volunteer Spotlight
Ed Zunzunegui When did your family become part of the St. Martin’s community?
Joined St. Martin’s community: 2015-2016 Volunteer Areas: • Fall Festival • St. Martin’s Fund • Capital Campaign • Classroom parent • Parent Council
We were researching schools for our son Aaron in late 2014, and St. Martin’s wasn’t on our initial list until we had a chance conversation with our friends the Leiters. After a meeting with Blythe Marsau, a tour of the school and Aaron’s visit, we were convinced this was the right school for him and us. Aaron was enrolled for Pre-K for the 2015-16 school year and is currently a 3rd grader. In what capacities have you volunteered at SMES (in and out of the classroom)? My first unofficial volunteer position with the school was as an out-sourced contract laborer working for my wife, who was the co-chair of the SMES Fall Festival for two years starting in 2016. My next engagement was with the St. Martin’s Fund as a volunteer in 2017, helping to contact families and educate them on the need for the Fund to bridge the gap between tuition and expenses and how their contributions help all the kids. Then, in 2018, Tina Haas asked if I would chair the St. Martin’s Fund for the 2018/2019 school year. Knowing the new building capital campaign was also that year, I asked Roger House, Chair of the “Together We Rise” capital campaign, if I could help him too. Wanting also to be more engaged with Aaron’s class in 2017, I volunteered as a classroom parent representative. The 2019-20 school year is now my third term on Dr. McPherson’s Elementary School Parent Council.
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WINTER 2020 | ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
Why is fundraising for St. Martin’s important to you and your family? As with a lot of families, when we came to a private school, we were unaware of the need for fundraising to help support operating costs and school programs that affect all students. Realizing that keeping tuition competitive is key to the school, the St. Martin’s Fund contributes funds to support the current school year to meet budget goals. To us, the funds ensure the school meets and exceeds its mission to create well-rounded students who are teedup for lifelong learning. The money helps fund new technology, 20 different sports programs, an award-winning speech and drama program, field and class trips, teacher professional development, and many other essential things that make St. Martin’s such a special place for our children. What makes St. Martin’s special to you and your family? The answer is simple: the way the teachers and staff mentor, treat, love, and educate our son is why we love St. Martin’s.
