2026 GiveBIG

Mommy, I Am Smart": Reimagining Success at New Horizon School

For many students, a book is just a book. But for Marcus, a student at New Horizon School, a copy of Hop on Pop became the key to a brand-new life.

After years of struggling to make sense of letters on a page, Marcus sat down and read that book cover to cover, all by himself. The tears of joy that followed weren't just about finishing a story; they were about a child finally seeing his own worth. He had his mother FaceTime everyone they knew so they could watch him read. Through his tears, he looked at her and said the four words every parent of a struggling learner dreams of hearing:

"Mommy, I am smart."

At New Horizon School (NHS), his mother noted that in just three months, the change in Marcus’s self-confidence was like "night and day." This is the power of a school that doesn't just teach—it transforms.

Why New Horizon School?

Since 1995, our Renton campus has been a sanctuary for students in grades 4–12 and young adults (ages 18-21+) who learn differently. Whether navigating dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, or executive function challenges, our students often arrive here having felt "stuck" in traditional environments.

Your GiveBIG 2026 gift fuels the three cornerstones that make Marcus’s "night and day" shift possible:

• Acceptance: We meet every student exactly where they are. In our small classrooms, no child is a face in the crowd. We create a "safe to fail" environment where mistakes are simply data points on the road to success.

• Opportunity: Learning here goes beyond the textbook. GiveBIG funds help us "Stock the Shelves" with specialized sensory tools, updated literacy curriculum, and technology labs that allow students to experiment and find their unique strengths.

• Achievement: We define success by the individual. For Marcus, it was a Dr. Seuss book. For others, it’s graduating high school (as 70% of our students do) or entering our Transition Extension Program to gain independent living skills and supported employment.

The Impact of Your GiveBIG 2026 Gift

As a non-profit 501(c)(3), community support is what keeps our tuition accessible and our programs life-changing. This year, your donations directly support:

• Literacy & Learning Resources: Ensuring every student has the tools they need to have their own "I am smart" moment.

• Teacher Excellence: Recruiting and retaining the specialized educators who saw the potential in Marcus when others didn't.

• Facility Needs: Helping us "Raise the Roof" and maintain a safe, modern learning environment for our growing community.

Join the NHS Family

When you give to New Horizon School, you aren’t just funding a classroom; you are telling a child that they are capable, they are seen, and they are brilliant.

Early Giving starts April 28. The 24-hour GiveBIG event is May 5. Help us reach our 2026 goal and create more "night and day" transformations for students like Marcus. Thank you for believing in our students!