2011: Year in Review

Throughout the past few years, rising economic uncertainty has affected communities across our nation and beyond. Heartspring has remained steadfast in our mission to help children with special needs grow and learn on a path to a more independent life, and because of that, our tuition and fees for our school program have remained frozen the past three years. While some of our counterparts raised rates and struggled with admissions, we were at or near capacity; and now, as we look forward to our next endeavors, Heartspring continues to grow and flourish.

Our World Reach efforts continue to make profound strides. It’s incredible how rapidly the developing countries we work with are changing; especially in regards to the knowledge they are accumulating about children with special needs. I’ve been able to witness the progression of the availability and quality of programs in place and I am proud that we can play at least a small part in the process. The passion behind the families and advocates of these programs is infectious, and after seven years, has gained recognition among government officials on a local and regional level. With advances in the standard of living comes recognition of something beyond basic needs; there’s a willingness to learn more about what they can do for these children, and they turn to Heartspring for advice and to share their vision.

As part of our exchange program, we have hosted teachers from China, India, Chile and Uganda. One of our first inspirations for international outreach, Hope, who started the Stars and Rain program in Beijing, brought a delegation of 11 program directors to Heartspring for observation. What they took from the experience wasn’t a method or technology, but a vision of what their programs could be. They leave Heartspring with a greater recognition of what can be done for children with special needs in their own countries. The biggest take away from our exchange program is that it costs very little to share our dreams, and in doing so solidifies our relationships on a global level.

To improve our own system, we have worked diligently to open more lines of communication and accessibility, specifically with a new intranet. Our employees can now access internal information more easily, laying a foundation for digital processes and information sharing within our school. As I have said in the past, none of the work we do and the successes we witness would be possible without the dedication and compassion our staff shares for the children we serve. It is those staff members that are truly enriching the lives of our children and leading them towards greater independence and I am humbled daily by their commitment. I would also like to recognize our community of supporters whose gifts allow us to dream big and contribute to future years of success.