Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you know Mariah has been attending private tutoring in Peoria at the Masonic Children’s Learning Center for the past two years. As she enters her third year at the learning center I am starting some fundraising for the center. The Learning Center provides private tutoring for children with dyslexia FREE of charge! However, the services they provide are anything but free for them. The wonderful staff they have commits their time to teach these children the most import tool they need for success, reading.
When Mariah started at the center just two years ago, she couldn’t even remember the whole alphabet, let alone read. Since Mariah has always been such a happy, care-free little girl this didn’t slow her down at first. The older she got the farther behind she became, and her friends were getting way ahead of her. Not just her friends who didn’t have a learning disability, but even her friends in her resource class were pulling way ahead of her. She soon became very frustrated and her spirit started to diminish. It was heartbreaking.
After joining the learning center she started to show some progress, slow at first but promising. Her attitude started to show signs of improvement as well. After just two short years of attending the Learning Center Mariah is now able to not only read, but more importantly she can sound out words and know some of the rules of language, so that she has the tools to succeed in school. At the end of the last school year she brought home a straight A report card for the first time ever!!! Now don’t get me wrong she still has modified classes and is not up to her grade level but the improvements are phenomenal!
Mariah will always struggle with written language, and school will be a challenge, but without the Learning center I know she wouldn’t be where she is today. In the last 5 years since we’ve known that Mariah had a problem she has seen, doctors, audiologists, neurologists, speech therapists, and specialists galore. All of them said the same thing, “We don’t really know why Mariah has such a hard time.” She soon was diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of dyslexia and it’s a miracle that she has come as far as she has, and I owe my thanks to the learning center as well as many others who have helped her along the way. A special thanks to ALL of her Masonic learning center tutors, Gina Cook (director of the Learning Center), Emily Wurmnest (former resource teacher), and Erin Chan (current resource teacher).
Mariah’s time at the learning center is limited. The program is two years and most children will graduate after their two years are up. In Mariah’s case she is so severe that she will be kept a third year to try and progress her even more. There is a possibility for a 4th year if needed but after that her services will be done.
Seeing as how she is entering her third year I want to help in any way I can to try and repay a small amount for the life tools they have given my daughter, something that can never be repaid with any amount of money. Helping the learning center will help them to be able to continue these life changing services to many other children! Here are some ways you can help.
You can sponsor Mariah with any amount and it will go directly to the learning center. You can also sponsor me and/or Mariah to participate in a few fundraising events or you can join in and attend the events yourself. There will be a walk for dyslexia on Saturday morning September 25th, 2010. Registration starts at 9:00 am and the walk starts at 10:00am. The cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children. You also get a T-shirt. You can sponsor me for the walk or participate in it yourself! There is also the Gala, which will be held on October 16, 2010 at the Weaver Ridge Golf Club. The event starts at 6:00pm with drinks and entertainment. Tickets are $100 per person. At this event there will also be a silent auction so you could also help by donating something for the auction.
Still don’t think you can help? This organization consists of a whole team of the directors, the tutors, the parents, the children, and MOST importantly God. Whether you can or can’t help financially, everyone can pray! Let’s lift up the whole team in God’s name and watch the miracles happen for these precious children He has given us! Thanks to everyone for your support!
With Love and Gratitude,
Elizabeth
(Sorry for all the background noise . I tried to edit it out with no luck. and yes I know I left the e out of "eyes")
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