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PARC Receives $33,000 in Grants to Support Programs
Brain Injury, Respite, and Preschool Funding Comes From National and Local Groups
PARC, the leading provider of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Putnam County, is the recipient of several grants to support new initiatives and fund existing programs.
Over the past four weeks, PARC received notice from the Christopher Reeve Foundation, the Provident Bank Foundation, The Fiddle Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation of each group's intention to financially support PARC's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) programs, respite services for families with an autistic child, and new initiatives at PARC's Mahopac-based preschool.
Recognized as a 501c (3) in 1954, PARC provides programming and advocacy for over 650 children and adults with developmental disabilities within Putnam County and in southern Dutchess and northern Westchester counties.
Due to the rapid growth of PARC's TBI program and the lack of available services in the greater Hudson Valley, PARC approached the Christopher Reeve Foundation to develop a comprehensive, weekly traumatic brain injury support group called R.E.A.C.H. - Rehabilitate, Enhancement, Advocacy, Communicate, and Health. R.E.A.C.H. is a 40-week support group program that will address the following: interpersonal relationships, effective communication, and social skills training.
PARC's S.K.I.L.L. Program (Services for Kids through Innovative Learning for a Lifetime) received a donation from the Valhalla-based Cappelli Foundation, a first time grant from this funder.
S.K.I.L.L. will utilizes mainstream computer hardware and software to conquer barriers that hinder autistic children in their quest to master non-verbal and verbal communication, along with innovative social/play groups specifically geared to autistic preschool children. The program strives to close or minimize the development gap or lag participants have as a result of their learning disabilities.
The Provident Bank Foundation presented a check for $10,000 to PARC's Executive Director Susan Limongello and Preschool Director Jane Curtin on January 31, 2007 to support the preschool's new Autism Resource Center.
In response to the burgeoning need for services related to Autism in New York State, PARC will implement an Autism Resource Center to provide comprehensive information, evaluation and advocacy services to autistic children and their families. The Autism Resource Center will function as an information clearinghouse and a source for resources to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism. PARC's Autism Resource Center will be the first one in Putnam/Northern Westchester to provide comprehensive information, evaluation and advocacy services to autistic children and their families. An information-based website will be the first phase of the grant
Also related to PARC's autism services, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation's board of directors recently granted PARC $5,000 to support respite services for families with autistic children. Through The Daniel Jordan Fiddle honors the individuality of every person with Autistic Spectrum Disorder so that each may participate throughout their lifetime in vocational, recreational, educational and residential opportunities that are suitable, stimulating and sustainable and allow for maximum integration in the community.
And the preschool also received a grant award letter for $10,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) on February 20, 2007. The foundation's grant will support several program at PARC Preschool including: visual learning supports and updated curricular materials for children with autism.
If you would like more information about PARC's services in the community, including our TBI, respite, and Preschool programs, please call 845-278-PARC or log onto wwwPutnamARC.org.
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