“We are looking for ways to help others and make a difference in our community! We are kids who care!”
Gift of Giving Day on Saturday, February 28, 2026. This is a community-wide event, and we encourage students to invite friends and family to join them in giving back!
Each year, students from A2D Academy’s After School Explorer’s Club and HIVE Microschool participate in a two-month focus on community giving. This initiative explores local, national, and global issues, as well as the organizations and solutions addressing these challenges.
Students are organized into small groups to conduct in-depth research on a specific community organization. Their work includes defining the problem the organization addresses and identifying ways they can personally contribute. They actively raise awareness and funds to support their chosen organization.
In addition to these research projects, students engage in hands-on activities, learning opportunities, and self-led awareness campaigns to give back to the community and highlight various issues.
The program culminates in our Gift of Giving Day. This event invites the community to A2D Academy to see what the students have learned and to join them in giving back. Our guiding principle for this term is: “We are looking for ways to help others and make a difference in our community! We are kids who care!”
Event Details
What: A community event where you can choose an hour to help give back.
When: Saturday, February 27th, 2027
Time Slots:
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Where:
A2D Academy
3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 350
Edina, MN 55435
Why Participate
- Walk-a-thon – supporting 6 different organizations (Snacks and Check in- Redwoods Room)
- Sandwich Making – supporting The Sandwich Project – Local Food banks(Steam Lab Room)
- Blanket Making- Supporting MN Children’s Hospital (Conference Room)
- Birthday Boxes – Supporting Local food Banks through Simon Says Give (Extra Room)
- Faux Flowers Bouquets – Supporting Brookdale Senior Living Memory Care Unit (Ever Green Room)
- Cards to our Veterans (Conference Room)
- Cat Toys- Supporting Humane Society (Library- Redwoods Room)
- Homeless Bags (Extra Room)
- Snuffle Matts -supporting Humane Society (Extra Room)
- Blue Jean Shoes – Supporting Sole Hope (Evergreen Room)
- Supply Drop Off:
- Shoes for Shoe-away-hunger
- Food for VEAP
- Books for A book of my Own
- Gently Used Clothes for Hope Renewed Store
Fundraising & The Party Bus
During the Gift of Giving Day, A2D Family Groups will participate in a walk-a-thon, pledging to walk a certain number of laps to raise money for the organization they researched.
- You will receive a link to your student’s fundraising page and a link to our Gift of Giving Webpage (for more event information and ticket reservations) by the end of this week.
- Pledge videos made by the A2D Family Groups will be shared with you by the end of next week to help them ask family and friends for support.
- Prize Alert: The A2D Family Group that raises the most money will win a Party Bus Ride to DQ in the first week of March, replacing their normal A2D class routine! (This is what they mean by “party bus”!)
Invitation Challenge
The student who invites the most guests to join them for giving back to the community at the Gift of Giving Day will win a ride from School to A2D Academy in a police car! This typically includes a quick treat and a swag bag. Help Us Gather Supplies!
If you would like to help us prepare, we need supplies for the 10 service projects planned for the actual Gift of Giving Day. A link to the materials list is available here.