EBS STAFF
For the third year, Morningstar Learning Center will host Black Tie Trivia, a fundraiser that supports the center’s efforts to provide affordable, high quality early childhood education to Big Sky families. The event will take place March 1 at Montage Big Sky.
Across the country, families are struggling to afford child care services. In Montana, early childhood educators earn less than $13 per hour on average, leaving nearly 25% of them living in poverty, a Jan. 28 press release from Morningstar explained. Families pay approximately $19,000 annually for child care, accounting for 28% of their income—four times more than what is considered affordable.
“At Morningstar Learning Center, we’ve worked hard over the last four years to increase teacher wages and provide housing, resulting in significantly improved recruitment and retention,” Executive Director Mariel Butan stated in the release. “Fundraising is Morningstar’s primary source of income, enabling us to make early childhood education affordable, benefit local families and support the businesses that rely on them.”
Black Tie Trivia will feature a silent auction, live auction and paddle raise, plus three rounds of trivia for the chance to take home the event’s coveted trophy. Attendees will enjoy dinner from Montage’s culinary team, live entertainment by Missy O’Malley and a photo booth.
Last year’s Black Tie Trivia raised over $100,000, and with over 50 children enrolled at Morningstar this season, Morningstar’s goal is to beat that record. The facility is currently the only full-time daycare in Big Sky.
The press release explained that many of Big Sky’s essential workers—including ski patrollers, firefighters, nurses and teachers—rely on child care; the services Morningstar provides “strengthen the entire community by supporting the workforce that keeps Big Sky running.”
“Excellent and affordable child care is the cornerstone of a thriving community, and Morningstar is committed to making that a reality for Big Sky,” Butan stated.
