A Community Commitment to Our Children 2026 MVEF Gala Fundraising Initiative
Not long ago, childhood looked very different. After school meant riding bikes through the neighborhood, knocking on a friend’s door to see if they could come outside, or sitting at the kitchen table finishing homework before dinner. The challenges children faced were real, but they were mostly visible to parents, teachers, and the adults who cared about them.
For many students, the day doesn’t end when the school bell rings. It continues through phones, gaming platforms, social media feeds, group chats, and online communities that follow them everywhere.
Friendships are formed online.
Opinions are shaped by algorithms.
Pressures that once stayed inside school walls can now reach a child’s bedroom late at night.
For young people who are still developing confidence, identity, and emotional resilience, this constant digital environment can be overwhelming.
Sometimes it’s a group chat that starts out as harmless joking but quickly turns hurtful, leaving someone unsure how to respond or where to turn.
And sometimes it’s a young person encountering something online that they simply aren’t prepared to navigate alone.
These moments often happen quietly—behind a screen, long after the school day has ended.
But their impact doesn’t stay there. It shows up the next morning in our classrooms, in our hallways, and in the lives of the students we care about.
- increased anxiety and social comparison
- cyberbullying and online conflict
- sleep disruption and screen dependence
- exposure to unsafe or predatory situations
- pressure to measure up in a world of curated online images
Parents often say they feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with how quickly technology evolves. Teachers see the emotional impact in classrooms every day. And students themselves are trying to figure out how to navigate a digital world that is moving faster than the guidance surrounding it.
At the same time, technology is not going away. It is now part of how our students learn, communicate, build friendships, and understand the world around them.
So, the question for our community is not whether children will grow up in a digital world.
The real question is whether we will help them grow up safe, confident, and resilient within it.
A Community Initiative
That is why the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation is launching Growing Up Safe in a Connected World, a year-long initiative designed to bring parents, educators, students, and community partners together around one shared goal: helping our children navigate today’s digital environment safely and responsibly.
This effort will be developed in partnership with the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation, working alongside district leaders, educators, and staff to support and strengthen the important work already taking place in our schools.
The Foundation’s role is to bring additional resources, community conversations, and learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom and into the broader community.
What This Initiative Will Include
- community conversations inspired by The Anxious Generation and The Amazing Generation
- expert speakers focused on digital safety and youth mental health
- student engagement around digital citizenship and healthy online habits
- practical resources to help families guide technology use at home
Rather than responding to challenges only after they occur, this effort focuses on education, awareness, and prevention.
It is about equipping families with knowledge.
It is about helping students build resilience.
And it is about ensuring that the incredible opportunities technology provides do not come at the cost of our children’s well-being.
Why This Matters Now
Across Indiana and throughout the country, communities are increasingly recognizing the importance of digital safety and youth mental health.
Recent legislative conversations—including the passage of Hailey’s Law—reflect a growing commitment to protecting young people from online harm and predatory situations.
These conversations reinforce what many parents and educators already know: helping children navigate today’s digital world safely requires awareness, education, and partnership.
Here in Mt. Vernon, we have an opportunity to bring our community together around this important issue.
Helping kids grow up safe in a connected world is not the responsibility of schools alone.
It is a shared commitment among families, educators, community leaders, and all of us who care deeply about the next generation.
Our Commitment
Together, we can ensure that our children are not only prepared for the future—but also protected, supported, and confident as they grow within it.
This initiative will officially launch in Fall 2026. Funds raised through this year’s Gala will help make this effort possible by bringing speakers, educational resources, and meaningful community conversations to Mt. Vernon students and families throughout the coming year.
This work will ultimately reach every student, every classroom, every educator, and every family across our district, strengthening the partnership between our schools and community in supporting the well-being of young people.
- Because the digital world is not going away.
- But together, we can ensure that Mt. Vernon students grow up prepared, supported, and safe within it.
- This is more than a program.
- It is a community commitment to our children.
Our community promise: Every Mt. Vernon student deserves the knowledge, support, and confidence to grow up safe in a connected world.
And through the generosity of those who support the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation, we take the first step toward making that commitment a reality.
MVEF Gala Fund-A-Need Giving Ladder
“Doubling Down on Tomorrow”
$10,000 – Royal Flush
Launch the Initiative
Supports the full Digital Wellness & Student Resilience initiative across Mt. Vernon Schools, including expert speakers, community education events, and districtwide programming focused on student well-being and digital safety.
$5,000 – High Roller
Champion Student Well‑Being
Supports expert-led parent and community workshops focused on social media, anxiety, and digital safety, helping families better navigate today’s digital world.
$2,500 – Double Down Leader
Equip the Adults Who Guide Students
Provides professional learning opportunities for teachers and staff, including resources and book studies such as *The Anxious Generation* to build shared understanding and strategies for supporting students.
$1,000 – Full House
Build Student Resilience
Supports student workshops focused on digital citizenship, mental wellness, and building healthy relationships with technology.
$500 – Winning Hand
Strengthen Prevention
Provides classroom tools and resources that help students build confidence, resilience, and healthy digital habits.
$250 – All In for Kids
Invest in Awareness
Helps bring important conversations about digital wellness, belonging, and student safety to the Mt. Vernon community.
$100 – Play Your Part
Every Gift Matters
Helps expand access to programs and resources that support student well-being and responsible technology use.
$25 – Spark the Community Conversation
Provides a copy of *The Anxious Generation* for our Mt. Vernon community book discussion, helping parents, educators, and community members better understand the digital challenges facing today’s students.
You can support this initiative by visiting onecau.se/mvefgala26 or by going to our website at MtVernonFoundation.org.
If you or your organization would like to provide matching funds to help amplify the impact of this program, please contact Renee@MtVernonFoundation.org.