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  Spring 2003
St. Anthony's Prepares For 50th Anniversary
Please contact the office with any historical information; to place yourself, an alumni, a donor or another on our mailing list; or to volunteer, to sponsor, or to help with our activities during this anniversary year. Please contact Kristen Szymkowiak, Development Director, at 412-882-1333. Cross-County Strategic Planning
Calendar of Upcoming EventsJuly 11th 2003 - The First annual Al Bennedetti Classic at Hickory Heights Golf Club. Lori Bennedetti is honoring her father, Al Bennedetti, with this outing to support St. Anthony's. Al was formerly Chairman of the Board of St. Anthony's and was a long time supporter of the students.November 14th 2003 - The Annual Opportunity Award Dinner and kickoff to the 50th Anniversary celebration will be held at the Westen Convention Center. March 21st, 2004 - Bowling April 19th, 2004 - Annual Golf Outing at Oakmont Country Club Spring 2004 - Inclusive Games. Opportunity Award Dinner a Great Success!
The 2002 awardees were The Most Reverend John B. McDowell who spearheaded the creation of St. Anthony's School for Exceptional Children in 1953, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers who have held the annual Special Recreation Day at their parks in the area for over 30 years, and FFC Capital, the owners of the original worksite for St. Anthony Students inclusive settings in 1992 and leader in the advocacy of opportunities for persons with disabilities. WPXI news anchor Peggy Finnegan served as Mistress of Ceremonies and the Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl hosted the event and presented the awards before a crowd of over 400 students, parents and friends of St. Anthony's. St. Anthony students greeted guests, thus giving attendees the opportunity to meet those who benefit from the St. Anthony School Program. St. Anthony student Matthew Cresanta offered a speech and Kristin Wagoner provided the musical entertainment for the evening. The evening also boasted a Silent Auction coordinated by board members and dinner co-chairs Marianne Kramer, Pat Maida and Louise Sutton. The auction featured 125 sports, children's, Christmas and gift items raising over $23,000! Plans are now well underway for the 2003 Opportunity Award Dinner. This coming year will mark St. Anthony's 50th Anniversary of helping children with special needs and the dinner will begin our continuing celebration by featuring special guests and memorabilia from the past 50 years in St. Anthony's history. Mark your calendar for Friday, November 14, 2003 for this important event! 2002 Opportunity Award Dinner Committee Members Mrs. Louise Sutton, Co-Chair Mr. & Mrs. Francis Kramer, Co-Chairs Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Maida, C0-Chairs Mr. Matthew Schneider, Co-Chair Mr. Thomas O'Toole, Co-Chair Mrs. Karen Bachor Mrs. Donna Brunton Mr. Gary Eiseman Mrs. Carol Gratchik Mrs. Susan Jackson Mr. Max Janairo Dr. David Krzan Mrs. Ruth Lamagna Sr. Ignatius Rooney Mr. Mark Sieg For more information about the 2003 Opportunity Award Dinner, call Karen Bachor, Assistant Development Director/Event Coordinator at 412-882-1333. Here we Grow Again!
Our two high school programs at Serra Catholic in McKeesport and Canevin High School in Crafton are unable to accommodate the growth of the program. The additional site at North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh will allow us to serve up to thirteen additional high school students. Our history at North Catholic started when needs drove us to operate a site there from 1992 until 1996. Without this new site, three St. Anthony students would not have the opportunity to benefit from our services. The post-secondary vocational program at Duquesne University is currently at its capacity of eight students. Because of the number of St. Anthony high school students graduating who want to attend this unique program, it is being expanded to include training at Carlow College. In collaboration with Carlow College, students from the Duquesne program will receive vocational training on the Carlow campus while coached by St. Anthony staff and Carlow College work study students. St. Anthony's previously operated a job site at Carlow in 1997. For more information on St. Anthony School Programs call Chief Operating Officer Mark Sieg at 412-882-1333. FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tom O'Toole "Our students are soaring to new heights in our one-of-a-kind program."
 Dear Friends, We are entering the fourth quarter of another successful year. I am so pleased to see the progress of the students and the evolution of the school program. The individual accomplishments of our students this year are simply tremendous. Nicole Hardiman received the Joan of Arc Award for her service to the community, Brian Wellinger, a St. Anthony Alumni, received a benefited position at Highmark, Kristin Wagoner accepted the role of being the primary entertainer at our annual awards dinner, and Kerry Seddon continues to work at Kennywood Park in the summers. These individual accomplishments are spotlights in an array of accomplishments that our students make each and every day. We have been researching our place in the nation by communicating with the National Catholic Education Association and other national associations. We have discovered that St. Anthony's is the only Catholic inclusive special education program in the nation where a student can enter at the kindergarten level, attend elementary school, high school and then attend a university setting alongside their regular education peers. I believe the inclusive settings we offer provide increased opportunities and motivation for our students to maximize their talents. St. Anthony School Programs is a national model for inclusive Catholic special education. As we approach our 50th anniversary, I would like to thank those who began the mission of caring at St. Anthony's Village, those who developed the culture of the St. Anthony School for Exceptional Children from 1953 to 1992 and those who took that culture and formed the inclusive St. Anthony School and formed the inclusive St. Anthony School Programs of today. St. Anthony's is a jewel in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I look forward to celebrating our 50th year of special education at St. Anthony's next year - I hope all of you will join us in the celebration. Sincerely,  Your Support Of St. Anthony's NeededSt. Anthony School Programs is growing and flourishing. We've seen a double digit increase in enrollment over each of the past three years and we're expanding at an ever-increasing rate to serve the many needs of our exceptional children. This amazing growth would not have been possible without the continued support from our generous donors.With growth comes additional expense. Unfortunately St. Anthony's has experienced a budget shortfall as a consequence. As we move through these difficult economic times and approach our 50th anniversary we look to you to help St. Anthony's grow strong for the next 50 years. Consider the many ways there are to help financially support St. Anthony School Programs:
Whether you're a first time donor, it's been a few years or you're a long time supporter, we've included an envelope in this newsletter for your convenience. Contact our office if you have any questions about helping St. Anthony's: Kristen Szymkowiak Development Director 412-882-1333 Parents Affirm Enhancement of Services to Students With AutismIn a parent survey to measure the outcome of enhancements made to services for students with autism, parents affirmed that the enhancements of agency-wide training by a national expert and intensive consultation with teachers improved teacher abilities and successes in their student's academics.This year, St. Anthony's contracted with Dr. Roger Cox, Director of Training for The University of North Carolina's TEACCH program. Dr. Cox presented for three days to all St. Anthony program staff on the TEACCH method of structured teaching. TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children) is a widely used and successful model. To further enhance services to students with Autism, St. Anthony's contracted this past year with The Watson Institute to provide ongoing consultation to two classrooms within St. Anthony School Programs. Staff report that the structured methodologies have helped both the students with autism and students with other disabilities. St. Anthony's Receives DCED Grant
Representative Kaiser sponsored the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development startup grant for the new SS. Simon and Jude site. |
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