The Charlotte Jewish News- June- July 2026- Page 12
At CJP, Spring Fling Bets on Community
By Elizabeth Johnson
By the time the roulette wheel began to spin at Charlotte Jewish Preschool’ s( CJP) Spring Fling, parents who normally only exchange quick greetings across Shalom Park were gathered around blackjack tables, cocktails in hand, laughing deep into the evening.
The fundraiser did not feel like a school event so much as a reflection of the incredible community surrounding it. Reimagined this year as an adults-only evening inspired by the glamour of a classic James Bond casino scene, the longtime fundraiser drew more than 125 parents, teachers, staff members and supporters for an evening of food, music, gaming and philanthropy benefiting CJP.
From the elegant cocktail bar setup to the dynamic stations spread throughout the venue, the polished atmosphere delivered cinematic energy without losing the generous familiarity that defines the school itself.
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CJP parents Marissa Hemy and Sarah Mann, alongside PTO President Shayna Putterman, approached this year’ s event with a different vision, reshaping the annual fundraiser into an evening centered as much on gathering together as giving back. The event they created felt both sophisticated and celebratory without losing the warmth and familiarity that made the evening resonate.
“ Ultimately, we wanted to create an event where parents and staff could genuinely enjoy being together,” Hemy said.“ So much of school life happens in the brief, quick moments between drop-off, pickup and everyone’ s endlessly demanding schedules.”
She continued.“ From the moment guests walked in, there was an energy in the room that felt immediate. It was palpable. Following months of planning, seeing it all come together exactly the way we had envisioned was incredibly rewarding.”
For Mann, one of the most notable instants came midway through the evening as conversations stretched across tables and circles began to blur together.“ There was a moment when I looked around the room and saw people from completely different groups chatting, laughing and lingering together,” Mann said.“ That’ s when it really hit me that the evening had become something bigger than a fundraiser.
Event Co-chairs from L to R: Marissa Hemy, Shayna Puttermann and Sarah Mann
People were genuinely happy to be together.”
Behind the scenes, volunteers, sponsors, PTO leadership and families all played a role in bringing the evening to life.“ The amount of support surrounding Spring Fling was really special to witness,” Putterman said.“ There was a genuine sense that people wanted to show up not only for the school, but for one another.”
That spirit of kehillah, or community, remained central throughout the evening and reflects a value Putterman believes feels especially important right now.“ CJP helps our children build an incredible foundation of Jewish learning and community, but the adults don’ t always have time to do the same as we are all balancing so much. Being a parent to young children, and especially a Jewish parent, can feel genuinely isolating at times. Creating opportunities for people to connect outside the routines of school life, have full conversations and engage on a deeper level matters a great deal.”
While proceeds from the evening support CJP broadly including new iPads, a step-andrepeat banner for CJP events and a professional camera with a photo printer, the fundraiser also highlighted the school’ s continued investment in experiential learning, including plans for a new play space, the Outdoor Learning Village( OLV), which will serve more than 270 students annually.
Becca Green, executive director of Charlotte Jewish Preschool, describes the OLV as far more than a playground.“ We wanted to create an environment that invites exploration,” Green said.“ A place where kids can climb, build, get dirty, engage with nature and experience the kind of joyful, hands-on learning that is so important in early childhood.”
Accessibility, she noted, remained a guiding principle throughout the planning process.“ From the beginning, we have been intentional about designing a space where every student, including those with physical disabilities, can participate fully and meaningfully,” Green said.
By evening’ s end, guests left with far more than raffle prizes and casino winnings. For a few hours, parents, teachers and staff slowed down, bonded and relished a night on the town, together.
Charlotte Jewish Preschool( CJP) is a nonprofit early childhood program located on Shalom Park that provides high-quality half- and fullday educational programs within an enriched Jewish environment. CJP instills a love of lifelong learning and Judaic values in its students, staff, and parents. CJP builds the foundation of children’ s learning and bridges relationships in our Jewish community; connecting families through learning, collaboration, and enrichment.