It could be a new project. A special accomplishment. Or even some special donors we’d like to recognize. Check out our What’s New section to see what’s happening at PACT or learn what’s being planned for the future.
imPACT: A Campaign for Children with Special Needs
Fundraising Campaign Is Approaching $500,000 Mark
"Our Campaign will help ensure that children throughout our community who have special needs can get the help they need at the time in their lives when it can be most effective," explains Charlie Constable, PACT Board chair. "We are going to reach the $500,000 mark sooner than expected." Full article...*Zero to Three Publishes Collaborative Research Study Conducted at PACT Therapeutic Nursery
Zero to Three recently published an article describing a study on homeless young children conducted by PACT, the University of Maryland Center for Infant Studies and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The research, which was conducted at PACT's Therapeutic Nursery for homeless infants and toddlers, looked at the effects of homelessness on young children's communication and play skills. It also examined difficulties in parent-child attachment, which are prevalent among many of the families with children enrolled at the Nursery. Full article...*
"Targeted Interventions for Homeless Children at a Therapeutic Nursery." By Carole Norris-Shortle, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and others. IN: Zero To Three, vol. 26, no. 4 (March 2006) pp. 49-55. *
PACT to Pilot Program for Children with Autism
PACT's Comprehensive Therapy Center and its World of Care childcare program are initiating a pilot project for children 18 months to 3 years of age who have been identified as having disorders falling within the autism spectrum. The project, known as Early Starts, will provide the children with a combination of highly focused therapeutic activities along with opportunities for interacting with and learning from children who are not autistic. Full article...*Covenant Guild Members Provide Support for PACT
Autism Project
The Covenant Guild recently awarded PACT a two-year $10,000 grant to support its new Early Starts project for children with autism. It was the second visit to PACT for Benita Gordon, president of the Guild, who encouraged her fellow members to lend their support. "I knew at the end of my first tour that this was definitely an organization that the Guild should help." Full article...* PACT Staff Takes Leadership Role in Newly Formed Coalition for Supporting Parents with Intellectual Disabilities
Bernadette Irwin, director of PACT's Growing Together program for mothers and fathers with intellectual disabilities, has taken a leadership role in forming the Mid-Atlantic Coalition for Supporting Parents with Cognitive Challenges and their Families. "Our coalition is modeled after one developed in New England," says Irwin. "It includes members representing the judicial system, family support programs, Arcs (formerly Associations for Retarded Citizens), social service agencies and educational systems." Full article...*Unique Ways of Giving
Every year, during the holiday season, Gail Johnson hosts a party and asks her guests to make a contribution to pre-selected charities. Even those who cannot attend often send Gail a check to support her causes. Last December, PACT was one of the recipients of their generosity. Gail learned about PACT from her good friend, Lisa Dornell, who is a parent representative on the PACT Board of Directors. Lisa shared her story about her son John who has special needs and was formerly enrolled in PACT programs. The wonderful response from Gail’s guests was heartwarming.
Office Depot invited PACT to participate in their annual Backpack Donation Day. This program is designed to provide needy children with basic supplies needed for the upcoming school year. Mayor Martin O'Malley, State Senator Lisa Gladden and Office Depot representatives presented more than 3,500 backpacks to ten different organizations in Baltimore that work with children. Thanks to Office Depot, 100 PACT children now have the school supplies they need to start off the year. Obsidian Realty donated a dishwasher and garbage disposal, as well as the services of a plumber and electrician to install them at the Therapeutic Nursery. "It is a dream come true. We have wanted them for so long," says Kim Cosgrove, director of PACT’s Therapeutic Nursery. "Our parents live in shelters and often do not have access to water hot enough to clean their babies' bottles thoroughly. Now we can clean and sterilize them while their children are here."
"The volunteers from Project Linus of Carroll County literally cover PACT children with love," says Roberta Rice, director of development. "They arrive every month with bags of hand quilted blankets their members have made for the children at PACT. We use them in our childcare centers and send them home with children from families with low incomes. The volunteers have even made special blankets that we use in therapy. Every child needs a nice blanket; the Project Linus volunteers are making sure that they get one."The Sukura Educational Exchange hosted 20 students from Japan who painted with the children in the World of Care, worked on a craft project with the parents and children in Growing Together and sang children’s songs in Japanese for everyone to enjoy.
Employees from Pricewaterhouse Coopers helped clean and change batteries in toys and play with the children on the playground in the classroom for their community service day.
Find out how you can lend your support to PACT.
imPACT Newsletters & Publications
Summer 2008 imPACT Newsletter*PACT 2007 Annual Report*
*(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
PACT is an affiliate of Kennedy Krieger Institute.
