Robbins Hebrew Academy

Building Original Minds An RHA Campaign for the Generations For the past half century, RHA has delivered a cutting-edge educational experience. Now we want facilities to match. So we've launched our most ambitious fundraising effort ever. With a goal of $5 million, the Building Original Minds campaign is well under way. When all is said and done, RHA will have state-of-the-art classrooms with the most up-to-date technology and work spaces that accommodate individual and group learning; an environmentally green rooftop playground with the latest and greatest in equipment, play structures and recreational areas; and a 'learning commons' that integrates print and online education, content creation and design thinking. And to add to our completed Early Years Wing, we're building Elementary and Middle School Wings. We're going to look beautiful. But how our kids learn is even more important. So we're investing in robotics, coding, STEM, global Torah study, financial literacy programs, math enrichment and new ways of learning Hebrew. And there are programs beyond the books too – like music, skating, the arts and character development. The fundraising has begun! Led by Ronnie Strasser, an RHA parent, the campaign features many great events: a golf tournament, a speaker series and a school gala. But the cornerstone event is what's really got people talking. Go-the-Distance is our community's first-ever crowd-funding and matching ride-a-thon. On June 3, RHA families and supporters took to the street on bikes and trikes to raise funds – matched by a group of community philanthropists. Afterwards, kids, parents, alumni and friends sang, danced and celebrated at RHA's annual barbeque. "It's about creating a multi- dimensional curriculum where students explore real-world problems through complex thinking, creativity and collaboration," says Head of School, Claire Sumerlus. "And then it's about creating a physical environment that inspires them to do their best work."

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