Puerto Rican School, Backed By CDFI Support, Changes Lives Through Hands-On Education
Client: The Girasol School
Client Location: Dorado, PR
CDFI: The Sunlight Loan Fund
CDFI Service Area: United States & Puerto Rico
Loans and technical assistance to support the launch and success of Montessori schools
Serving the Dorado community in Puerto Rico, The Girasol School offers the holistic education of a Montessori school blended with a bilingual language immersion program. Founded by Patricia Raevis and Sammie McGue — two lifelong Montessori educators — Girasol is Puerto Rico’s seventh Wildflower School, a network of neighborhood-nested Montessori schools located across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It was born out of both necessity and vision: Sammie, having recently relocated to Puerto Rico, found few authentic Montessori options for her own children. Partnering with Patricia, she set out to create a dual-language, community-rooted school where every child could thrive.
But like many mission-driven schools, Girasol faced a significant barrier: capital. Traditional banks required collateral and a credit history that the founders didn’t have. Without financing and technical assistance, their vision may have remained unachievable.
CDFI Financing Builds Classrooms and Opportunity
Through the Wildflower Schools network, they connected with The Sunlight Loan Fund, finding not only mission-aligned capital but also trusted, hands-on support to guide the founders from planning to operations.
The Sunlight Loan Fund’s financing allowed Girasol to create 46 new student seats, 50% of which are subsidized to meet the needs of families in a community where more than half of the residents live in poverty.
In 2025 alone, The Sunlight Loan Fund provided $1.2 million in loans to 22 childcare centers and schools, with 73% of those dollars reaching institutions in low-income areas. Girasol is one of many stories that proves equitable access to capital fuels real community transformation.
Beyond financing, Girasol also received hands-on support and technical assistance. Through Wildflower School’s Startup Journey program, they gained step-by-step guidance on design, budgeting, licensing, and community engagement.
As Girasol grew, the Sunlight Loan Fund team helped refine an equitable tuition model and integrate behavioral health partnerships, ensuring families could access support without added cost. Ongoing coaching continues to strengthen the model and prepare for expanded services, such as speech and occupational therapy. This combination of guidance, resources, and coaching has positioned Girasol to launch successfully and sustain its impact for years to come.
A Community Resource Creates Accessibility
Girasol has quickly become a cornerstone of Dorado’s diverse community. Parents know their children are not only immersed in bilingual education but also supported by teachers who receive ongoing behavioral health coaching —provided at no cost to families.
In its very first year, Girasol surpassed its goals in enrollment and fundraising. Today, it’s more than a learning environment; it’s a place where children share languages, families access vital support, and a community discovers new possibilities.
Visit our persistent poverty page and economic opportunity page to learn more about how OFN and our network of CDFIs invest in these priorities.
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