Brookville Center for Children’s Services held its first Steps Toward Tomorrow fundraising walk on Sunday, May 3, raising over $134,000 for priorities identified by each of its schools.

More than 350 people took part in the 1.5-mile Candy Land-themed walk on the center’s 20-acre property in Brookville. The walk ended at the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms & Arts Center, where children petted farm animals, played ring toss, planted flowers, and painted rocks.

Brookville Center for Children’s Services educates special needs kids from preschool age through 22 years old. The center, which is partnered with AHRC, has four schools in Nassau County serving over 550 students. It is funded through public school districts, where if they cannot adequately provide an appropriate education for a child with special needs, can refer the child to the Nassau AHRC. Mary McNamara, the foundation director for Nassau AHRC, said the fundraiser is important to provide the best equipment to their students.

“Government and school funding provide the basics of what a student needs in providing a free and proper education, but when parents get involved and the community too, we are able to enhance that education experience through an event like this,” McNamara said.

The Barbara C. Wilson Preschool raised over $10,000 for augmentative and alternative communication devices and to develop “interactive sensory hallway spaces.” The Children’s Education Center, which provides education to students from preschool through age 22, raised over $40,000 for refurbishing its sensory room and creating an outdoor sensory learning area. The Westbury-Post Avenue Preschool raised $3,175 to fund bubble shows, monthly yoga sessions, and outdoor play materials, while the Round Hill Road Preschool raised $23,025 to expand its outdoor play area.

“Each one of these schools has selected what they need,” said McNamara, and anyone can donate to support the fundraising goals of each specific school

McNamara said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the center was seeing less engagement at its hallmark fundraiser for the Children’s Education Center. The administration, along with Al Capra, a parent advocate and Brookville Center for Children’s Services Board president, came up with the idea to host a fundraiser for all of the center’s four schools.

Capra’s son, AJ, has been attending the Children’s Education Center for about eight years and is now 21 years old. Capra said he has had a great experience at Brookville Center for Children’s Services.

“They’re incredibly patient with him, they’re incredibly supportive,” said Capra.

Capra said Program Supervisor Sherry Black inspired him to join the board, where he would eventually become president and help plan the center’s first fundraising walk. He said he was motivated chiefly by giving back to the center.

Source: LI Press