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Help Students Explore and Learn!

 

Taking a woodworking class at the Eliot School wasn’t my first choice.  

You see, I attended Greater Egleston High School my senior year and every Wednesday was dedicated to our real-world learning class. I ended up at the Eliot School as the only girl in the woodworking class.  

I was intimidated because I was surrounded by teenage boys and men. The only other female I saw was Lillian, one of the program associates, when she would pop in and out of the office at the back of the shop. I had put furniture together before taking the class, but I had never made anything from scratch. 

At first, I was nervous about the machines. Have you ever been in the shop when they’re running? It’s so loud! But as I became more comfortable with the machines and my projects, I started to feel more confident. I realized I was at ease when I no longer felt the need to ask questions before doing something. I knew what to do and what machines to use. I also started to feel good about what I was making.  

I was encouraged to be an assistant teacher for the Summer Program for Children, where I could build on my newfound confidence. I had never been to summer camp or done anything like that. I found myself helping kids learn about woodworking, sewing, visual arts, and mixed media. I really liked encouraging the kids to create art and feel good about it. I always let them know there are no expectations with art, they get to create and be themselves.

I was then asked to continue as a teaching assistant during the school year. I now help with the Career Pathways in Carpentry & Craft program as well as other youth woodworking classes.

It’s a little weird to be teaching people I went to school with last year, but it’s also really cool. And I think it’s good for students to see someone their own age in the shop. Last semester, there were three girls in the class, and this semester half of the new sign-ups for the class were girls from my high school. I’m more confident in the shop now that I’m teaching others and it’s fun watching students complete their projects.

I never expected to still be at the Eliot School helping other students learn about woodworking, but that’s the great thing about the Eliot School. There are so many classes in different mediums and instructors who share what they know, which makes it easy to feel like you can make something. The Eliot School is very accessible. You just have to show up as yourself and do it.  

Sincerely,  

Ashley Veliz

Shop & Facilities Assistant

Donate Today

Contributions to the Eliot School support arts education and community programs inspiring lifelong learning in craft and creativity for all. Your generosity makes our work possible and offsets dollars not sustained by tuition alone.

Donate Online

There are so many ways to make your secure donation online by credit or debit card, Venmo, and PayPal.

Donate by Mail or Phone

Make your check payable to Eliot School and mail to:

Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts
PO Box 300351
Boston MA 02130

To make a credit card gift by phone, call 617.553.4684 and speak with our Program Support team.

Other Ways to Give

Donate Stock

Please contact us for instructions regarding stock transfers via our investment manager.

Matching Gifts

Matching gifts are a great way to increase your giving. Talk to your HR Department to see if your company will match your donation.

Add on to your Tuition

When registering for classes, add to your tuition fees.

Gifts in Memory/Honor of

Honor a loved one with a gift of any size in their name or in their memory.

In-kind Gifts, Tools & Supplies

We appreciate offers of tools and art supplies in good condition. However, our storage capacity is extremely limited.  If you're interested in donating goods/tools/furniture, please complete this form: Donation Inquiry. A staff member will be in touch, if desired. Thank you for thinking of us!

General Scholarship Fund

Support our general scholarship fund, which offers needs-based scholarships to our Summer Program for Children and other classes during the year.

Named Scholarship Funds

We are proud to host special scholarship funds in honor/memory of those who share a passion for craft and art education. Their legacy allows students to attend classes tuition-free. You can name a scholarship fund with a minimum gift of $10,000. 

To establish a named scholarship in honor of a loved one, please contact Interim Director of Development and Communications Angela Lett. To donate to an existing scholarship fund, visit our Annual Fund donation page and mention the name of the fund in the Notes. Find out more about our Named Scholarships.

Capital Fund

The Eliot School aspires to provide our students with a quality learning experience, including a physical facility that meets today’s requirements for accessibility. We invite your support to provide improvements to our classrooms, equipment, and administrative space.

Bequests & Planned Giving

Include the Eliot School in your will to support craftsmanship and creativity for generations to come. Please contact Interim Director of Development and Communications Angela Lett to discuss your legacy gift.

Donor Advised Funds

The Eliot School gladly accepts contributions from Donor Advised Funds. A DAF is a charitable giving vehicle that makes it easy for donors to simplify giving and philanthropic goals to dedicate funds in support of their favorite nonprofit organization. It also provides a convenient and tax-efficient method for donors to manage their charitable giving. 

You may contribute directly through your account at DAF Direct (Fidelity, Schwab or BNY Mellon). If your donor advised fund is with a different entity, please process as usual through your advisor.

Your generosity means we can continue to inspire art and craft for all ages, bring classes to Boston Public Schools, support art pathways for teens, and bring joy to the community!

If you have any questions about making a gift to the Eliot School, please call 617.553.4686 or email Interim Director of Development and Communications Angela Lett.

The Eliot School’s legal name is Trustees of Eliot School, incorporated in 1843 and tax-exempt under IRS 501(c)(3). Tax ID # 04-2173050

All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For comprehensive information useful to donors, see our listing on GuideStar, a national resource for philanthropy.