GRACE Christian School is blessed to work closely with local businesses within our community as part of our Business Partnership program. Our mission is to be a loving community that spiritually and academically equips, challenges, and inspires students to impact their world for Christ.
Becoming a GRACE Business Partner means showing your Eagle spirit in various ways. Your contributions will help support our academics, athletics, fine arts, and service events, and in turn, empower the overall success of the well-rounded student experience we offer here at GRACE.
Serving as a Business Partner also provides companies and organizations with an easy and effective avenue to advertise their business and services to our engaged and active school community. By partnering with GRACE, your business will expand its reach to 20,000+ annual attendees at campus events, 875+ students, 1,100+ parents, and 700+ alumni along with other members of our community.
Read below to see how two of our Business Partners help Eagles soar!
Our spotlight sponsors feature Holly Armstrong from GoPlaySave and Angela Parlin from Budget Blinds.
AP: This is our 3rd year as a GRACE Business Partner!
2. What made you decide to become a GCS business partner?
HA: We feel a strong calling to support GRACE! Being a business sponsor is one way in which we can support GRACE and let the GCS community know about our local business.
AP: We were looking for more ways to be involved at GRACE and to support our school when we heard about the Business Partner program. It felt like a perfect fit for us. It gave us more than a way to support the school, as it also gave us opportunities to interact with other business owners and with GRACE students, which has been a huge blessing.
3. How has being a GRACE Business Partner benefited your business?
HA: This partnership has opened up doors to work with other local business owners in the GRACE community. We enjoy the quarterly Coffee Connections that GRACE has for business partners. It has been great to meet other families at GRACE that are business partners and develop relationships.
AP: Being a GRACE Business Partner has meant more GRACE families have learned what our company offers, and we have had the opportunity to help many GRACE families with their window-covering needs.
4. Are you involved with the GCS community?
HA: Yes, my husband, Ryan, is on the board of trustees. I have been a room parent throughout the years, and am involved with PTF (parent-teacher fellowship). I’m on the spirit night committee that plans fellowship events. I am also on the GRACE Welcome Team which helps welcome new families to GRACE.
AP: I am involved in the GRACE community in a variety of ways. This year, my “big one” is taking on the role of Varsity Cheer Coach, which I’m having a lot of fun with. I am also a part of the Moms in Prayer group on Wednesday mornings at Upper Campus. I have also participated in Bible studies offered on campus, and I am a substitute teacher sometimes. I have loved serving on PTF committees and in the lunchroom, and one of my favorite things has been helping with the GRACE Gala for the past 2 years.
5. Tell us a little about your business.
HA: We started GoPlaySave in 2004, the same year that our oldest son was born. Since then, our family has grown, and we have evolved GoPlaySave into the Triangle's Premier Coupon Book. In 2013, we saw the need to develop a mobile platform that has grown into one of the top coupon mobile apps in the Triangle.
Through all the growth, our mission has never changed: To provide the highest quality coupon book to our fundraising groups, to give them the best opportunity quality coupon book to our fundraising groups, to give them the best opportunity to raise funds, to maximize their goals, and to be an effective vehicle that drives new and existing customers to support local business in the Triangle.
Our vision at GoPlaySave Triangle is to provide a product that is a WIN for the businesses advertising, a WIN for the fundraisers, and a WIN for the customers. Allowing them to save money and explore new places while supporting the local community.
AP: Budget Blinds of Durham, Cary, & North Raleigh is proud to be your local partner for all things window coverings! After serving the Triangle for 25 years, our team is passionate about providing an exceptional experience and the right blinds, shades, shutters, or motorized outdoor shades and awnings based on our customer’s unique needs. Complimentary consultations with our expert Design Consultants and professional installation makes the experience a breeze. And, you can enjoy peace of mind with our best-in-the-business warranties.
Although Budget Blinds is the nationwide window covering leader, our team prioritizes supporting local. In 2022, we donated over $40,000 to non-profits serving the Triangle through our $1 Per Window Campaign. We are so grateful for our customers who allow us the opportunity to give back. We serve Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, and the surrounding areas.
Visit our showroom at 5131 NC Highway 55, Suite 104 in Durham, or explore budgetblinds.com/durham. Call or text 919–361–0495 to schedule your complimentary in-home consultation to transform your space!
6. Is there anything else you'd like to mention or tell future GCS business partners?
HA: Being a GRACE Business Partner is a great way to stay involved with the school and get plugged in with the GRACE community.
AP: Come, join us! That’s what I would tell future Business Partners. It’s a sweet community of GRACE supporters, and it is always a treat to gather together for a partner meeting, where the administration gives back to us in various ways. I see it as a group of people who come together to give to and support an organization we really believe in. There are so many characteristics of GRACE I am thankful for, and this is a great way to say thank you, give support, get to know the school more, and enjoy the community.
A very special thank you to Holly and Angela for taking the time to speak with us about why their businesses chose to be Business Partners at GRACE Christian. To learn more about the GRACE Business Partnership program and see the other local businesses that are our sponsors, click here.
HA: Being a GRACE Business Partner is a great way to stay involved with the school and get plugged in with the GRACE community.
AP: Come, join us! That’s what I would tell future Business Partners. It’s a sweet community of GRACE supporters, and it is always a treat to gather together for a partner meeting, where the administration gives back to us in various ways. I see it as a group of people who come together to give to and support an organization we really believe in. There are so many characteristics of GRACE I am thankful for, and this is a great way to say thank you, give support, get to know the school more, and enjoy the community.
A very special thank you to Holly and Angela for taking the time to speak with us about why their businesses chose to be Business Partners at GRACE Christian. To learn more about the GRACE Business Partnership program and see the other local businesses that are our sponsors, click here.
We grow because you chose to give. GRACE encourages you and your business to make an impact this school year by joining our nest of Business Partners this coming school year!