Experiential School
Shorecrest’s Mission is augmented by the generosity of our parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends who support the school philanthropically or as advocates in our wider community. We call these community members Contributing Chargers.
Since joining the community in 2016, Contributing Chargers Lisa and James Thompson have found many ways to get involved in the Shorecrest experience of their children Lexi '29 and Maxwell '31. This year, Lisa sponsored the Shorecrest Gala presented by American Integrity Insurance Group, through her company MC Travel Company and personally as the Thompson Family.
In a recent interview, Lisa shared why they support Shorecrest with their time, talent and philanthropic support:
What is your connection to Shorecrest / Why is Shorecrest important to you?
Shorecrest has been the center of our children's educational journey since Experiential School. Both children are now in middle school, and it's incredible to see how much they have grown into well-rounded, responsible learners. Shorecrest is important to us because of the safe foundational community it provides. Children know when they are safe to learn, allowing them to ask questions, be themselves, and, in turn, feel loved. It's the environment Shorecrest provides for our children that is most important to us for them to have the best opportunity to learn and grow.
What do you enjoy most about being part of this community?
We feel enormous joy to be part of the Shorecrest community through our children's love for their teachers and school. Although academic excellence is paramount and our most significant reason for attending Shorecrest, we enjoy the small-town feeling within the community most, thanks to our school's supporting and welcoming nature.
What drew you to becoming a sponsor supporting the Shorecrest Gala for our Centennial?
Shorecrest is a dynamic team with many components coming together for a single focus on the student. The same focus is true for the unique operations of my online travel agency, MC Travel Company. Unlike a traditional travel agency, I created a team of professionals who work together rather than compete against one another for clientele. When guests book travel with us, they work with a team of specialists who come together for a single focus - the client. MC Travel Company's base clientele is 75% repeat and referral since 2017, because once guests book with us, they understand the responsive, thoughtful process of our vacation planning. Also, the agents work from home, which allows them to be full-time parents while dreaming up a client's next adventure!
What does giving to this community mean to you?
St. Petersburg is a special place for my husband, James, and me. It's where our children were born, and it's been our home for the last 15 of the 23 years we have been together. We understand the meaning of commitment and thoughtfully build every relationship to make it count. We are delighted that we have made St. Petersburg our home and found the community of Shorecrest to build around that foundation. We knew when the time came to celebrate Shorecrest's 100th year, we wanted to support in any way we could. It feels good to be a part of the history as it unfolds while giving back to the community of Shorecrest that has done so much for our children.
How do you think your gift will impact current and future Shorecrest students?
Entrusting our children's education with Shorecrest, it only follows that we would trust that the school will allocate our gift to where it is needed most each and every year.. We are grateful to contribute to continuing our school's advancement in any way we can.
What is something you are looking forward to as we enter our second century?
Through our time at Shorecrest during our children's Lower School years, we had the opportunity to watch the school progress from learning inside unattached buildings and trailers for part of the day to now enjoying a miraculous new communal facility, green space, and dining hall. With our children now embarking closer to High School, we are most excited to experience our school athletics, theater, and college preparatory capabilities as Shorecrest progresses into the next century, continually transforming for the better.
Shorecrest Contributing Chargers like Lisa and James Thompson, and Community Sponsors MC Travel Company, connect mission-aligned area businesses with Shorecrest, benefitting the entire school community. If you are interested in learning more about the Shorecrest Community Sponsors program, contact Sarah Heibein, Senior Giving Specialist - Community Partnerships at [email protected]. To share a Contributing Chargers story, email Olivia Segalman, Associate Director of Advancement for Community Engagement & Events, at [email protected].
