Solar shed is Walker’s latest bright idea

The most recent addition to the Walker Needham campus is a brand new utility shed, with lights and electricity powered by two 85 watt solar panels. It was designed and built by Paul S. Brown and is the first completed project of One Penny Per Mile, his non-profit organization based in Needham and committed to providing sustainable energy solutions to schools. 

The shed features storage space for outdoor toys and sports equipment, an electrical outlet suitable for low-power devices like radios, and a dusk-to-dawn motion sensor for an outdoor light. A light inside the shed also allows children at Walker to see the inner workings of the solar power equipment. 

During installation in late September, Brown was at the Walker Needham campus to provide an astronomy lesson for the students at the Walker School while demonstrating a design feature of the shed. He adjusted the solar panels to their “fall” position, to account for the autumnal equinox, and he plans to visit again in the spring to readjust the panels to take full advantage of the increased sunlight. 

Brown became connected with Walker several years ago, reading books to children in the Walker CBAT (a crisis and stabilization program) and volunteering with other members of his Needham church. So when he began looking for a place to showcase his first project, “Walker was my first choice.” 

Along with the many hours of labor donated by Brown, funding for the shed was also provided by the participants of One Penny Per Mile. Car owners can pledge one cent for each mile they drive to offset emissions and other environmental consequences of driving. Donations are designated for future sustainable energy projects for area schools. 

You can find out more about how you can support One Penny Per Mile by visiting their website.

Walker holiday cards can help brighten the season

Share the holiday spirit with greeting cards that feature drawings by children at the Walker School. Choose from four different designs:

Holiday Pop , by Robert, age 13
“Have a Sweet Holiday”
(Inside message: blank)

  

Penguins , by John, age 8 and Langdon, age 10
Holidays are the best because you’re with your family!
(Inside message: blank)

Home For the Holidays , by Matt, age 13, and Collin, age 12
(Inside message: “Warm Winter Greetings”)

   

Snow Plow , by Skyler, age 11
“Let It Snow!”
(Inside message: “Happy Holidays”)

 One package of 20 cards with envelopes: $10.00

Your purchase helps to support the children and families served each year by Walker academic and therapeutic programs.  All cards feature a brief description of Walker on the back. 

If you would like to purchase Walker holiday cards, please contact Amy Perna, Walker annual fund manager, by email or at 781-292-2110.

Boston Globe Scholastic photography exhibition features work by Beacon High School students

Seven students at Beacon High School have contributed photographs to the Boston Globe Scholastic Massachusetts High School Photography Exhibition, which opened last month in Boston.

Among the Beacon High School submissions is the photograph below, created on 35mm color film with a pinhole camera that the student constructed himself.

Last semester, the students created a range of work in traditional and experimental photography classes taught by Beacon photography teacher Véronique d’Entremont. “This exhibition is a great opportunity to have a number of our students’ work recognized” she says.

The students will attend an artists’ reception on November 22. The photographs can be seen on the second floor of the State Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza in Boston. The exhibition opened October 15 and runs until November 27.

Birthday boys celebrate by donating gifts to children at Walker

Ethan and Alex Shifman look forward to their birthdays every year as much as any other kid, but for the past several years, the brothers have celebrated in a special way.

Last month Ethan and Alex visited the Walker Needham campus with their father Ken, and dropped off a carload of presents—toys and gift certificates collected at each of their birthday parties earlier this year and donated to children in residential programs at Walker.

The boys began donating their birthday gifts to Walker in 2007, and for the past three years they have asked friends and family who attend their birthday parties to bring a gift for a child at Walker. Sometimes they even include a Walker wish list of toys and other items on the party invitation, and several of their guests have been similarly inspired to designate Walker as the beneficiary of gifts from their own birthday celebrations.

The two brothers, 8 and 6 years old, learned about Walker from their mother Jill. “I wanted to help them understand and appreciate how fortunate we are, and how important it is to help others,” she said. “The Walker School helps kids who are about the same age as Ethan and Alex, and it is nearby, so on our visits they could see that they were helping kids who, despite their challenges, were a lot like them.”

The two boys look forward to the gift drop-off each year, as six-year-old Alex explains: “We like it, because other people don’t have toys, so if we give it to them, they can play too.”

While visiting Walker, they were treated to birthday cupcakes and were presented with certificates of appreciation. They have also received a heartfelt thank you from Walker executive director Richard W. Small. “Through their generosity, Ethan and Alex are helping to teach a new generation about the importance of philanthropy.”

If you would like to find out how you can turn your special celebration into an opportunity to contribute to the well-being of children in residential care at Walker, please contact Amy Perna, Walker annual fund manager, for more information.

2009 Fore the Children Golf Tournament raises $140,000 for Walker

More than 100 golfers spent a perfect fall afternoon at Weston Golf Club on Monday, October 5th at the annual Walker Fore the Children Golf Tournament. In the year marking the 20th anniversary of the event, the tournament raised $140,000 in support of children and families who depend on Walker programs and services.

This year the first place award for low net score went to the team led by a special guest—former longtime Red Sox rightfielder Dwight Evans. He was joined by tournament teammates Richard Beradino, George Psyhogeos, and Dr. Tom Burke. Terry O’Connor led the first place winners for low gross, along with his fellow team members Douglas Moran, Shawn Mato, and Jeff Campbell.

An active tournament committee, led by John Boyle and Paul Shorthose, ensured an enjoyable day on the course and a post-round program packed with unique auction items. Charity auctioneer, Harry Rose led the bidding on a wide range of auction prizes, including a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride over Boston. 

“We are fortunate to have so many generous and dedicated friends,” said Walker executive director Richard W. Small.  ”And we are grateful for the support of so many corporations that share a steadfast committment to improving our communities through philanthropy.”

This year’s tournament sponsors included Intex Solutions, Inc., Proactive Community, United Benefit Services, Middlesex Savings Bank, ATG, Bank of America, The Thordike Family, John and Mary Boyle, and Pete and De Simone.

If you are interested in serving on next year’s golf committee or would like to learn more about the tournament, please contact Nicole Hand, Walker manager of events and corporate giving, for more information.

Suitcases4Kids donates 100 suitcases to Walker residential students

Walker was the recent beneficiary of an unusual gift—approximately 100 gently used suitcases.

 The truckload of luggage was a donation was from the North Andover-based Suitcases4Kids. The suitcases will be given to children in Walker residential treatment programs—kids who often arrive at our Needham campus with a hastily gathered assortment of clothes and personal belongings. The suitcases will provide them with an alternative to the plastic garbage bags they often use transport their clothes and personal items.

 The Suitcases For Kids project began in Florida in 1995 when 10-year-old Aubyn Burnside learned that the average child in foster care moves three to four times. Adding to this disruption for some children are multiple psychiatric hospitalizations and admissions into residential programs like Walker.

 After the project lost momentum at the beginning of the decade, Suitcases4Kids was revived by Ron Nickerson, a former social worker for kids in specialized foster care and residential program director. He understands more clearly than most people how multiple foster placements can create stress and serial disruption. He is currently a foster dad to several boys with reactive attachment disorder, a diagnosis common to children who have experienced an odyssey of program placements and foster homes.

 Several of the suitcases were immediately given to children in the Walker Community-Based Treatment unit, a Needham Campus-based emergency stabilization program for children between three and ten years old and who arrived in psychiatric crisis—in some cases the result of severe trauma, abuse or neglect. Other suitcases were given to specific children at Walker who have experienced recent family disruption or who are preparing for reunification or a new foster family. The rest of the suitcases are in storage and will be given to children who are admitted to Walker over the next year.

 To find out more about Suitcases4Kids or to learn how you can help, visit their website.

Harry Rose goes the distance in his second annual 24-hour golf marathon

Professional golfer Harry Rose hit his first tee shot at Needham Golf Club at noon on Thursday, July 23rd, and he started walking. By the time he stopped walking he had played 205 consecutive holes over 24 hours, covering an estimated 50 miles.  It was, as he said, “like hitting a ball from here to Cape Cod.” 

Rose successfully completed his second 24-hour golf marathon last week, with contributed proceeds to benefit Walker and the Jimmy Fund. Contibutions are still coming in and the total has not been tallied, but Rose estimates that his golf all-nighter will yield at least $5,000 for students and families at Walker and for cancer research at Dana Farber.

Despite facing  heavy overnight rain that slowed them down and caused their glow-in-the-dark golf balls to malfunction, Rose and his playing partner Rich Hasenfus (who joined him for part of the marathon) collectively played 295 holes over two days.  That’s par 1,167, if you’re keeping score.

If you would like to join us in saluting Harry and this remarkable accomplishment, you can visit Walker’s Harry Rose Golf Marathon donation page to contribute.

And don’t forget to save the date for the annual Walker Fore the Children Golf Tournament on October 5, 2009 at the Weston Golf Club, with proceeds to benefit the students and families who depend upon the programs and services provided each year by Walker.  Harry will be there, too, as usual, to play 18 more holes for a great cause.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club brings the Comforts of Home to Walker

Walker recently received a grant from the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club to underwrite Comforts of Home, a project to improve the personal living environments for children who are admitted into Walker residential treatment programs.

The Walker residential programs are designed to care for young children struggling with severe emotional and behavioral problems, while providing their families with integrated support and guidance. But some children arrive at Walker after being placed in the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. These children have often experienced trauma from abuse, neglect, and family disintegration, and they typically arrive at the Walker Needham campus scared and lonely, with little clothing and very few personal items.

The Comforts of Home program will provide these children with some special things—perhaps a Buzz Lightyear sweatshirt, Dora the Explorer curtains, a new Teddy Bear—personal items that will help them feel more at ease. Comforts of Home will help to make their time at Walker feel less “institutional.” And while Walker is certainly not a “home” for these children, we can ensure that it is a comfortable place, where children are safe while they learn the skills that will prepare them for a permanent family placement.

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club is a volunteer group that works to strengthen Wellesley and its surrounding communities through projects and events that include the publication of the Wellesley Phone Book, the Wellesley Marketplace Craft Festival and the Wellesley Kitchen Tour. This volunteer group also provides student scholarships and supports many other local charitable organizations.

A previous grant from WHJWC to Walker in 2008 helped to transform the physical environment at Hatoun House, one of seven Walker intensive residential treatment units for children between the ages of 5 and 13. The grant provided for new furniture and other improvements to the therapeutic environment, presenting students with the renewed expectation of respecting and caring for a newly refurbished and attractive communal living space.

In addition to their financial generosity, volunteers from the WHJWC have been visiting with Walker students several times each year since 2007. The group has “adopted” Hatoun House, regularly visiting the young children who live there and bringing supplies and creative ideas for special dinners, activities, and crafts projects.

Through their dedication to Walker and with projects like Comforts of Home, the talented women of the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club are helping to provide a new model for philanthropy and active volunteering for those who are committed to strengthening our community.

Ronald McDonald House Charities awards grant to Walker

Last week, Walker was awarded a grant of $14,700 by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England, Inc., for furniture and supplies to be used in residences on the Needham campus. The grant from the Windham, New Hampshire-based charity will underwrite new furniture for the communal living and dining spaces at two residences, including two sofas, two upholstered rocking chairs, coffee and end tables, a dining table and chairs.

“We are grateful for this generous investment in the Walker infrastructure and in the lives of our residential students,” says Walker executive director Richard W. Small. “We are very fortunate to have community partners like Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England.”

Organized in 1986, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England provides financial support each year to organizations like Walker that are committed to serving children and families through health care, education and non-profit social service.  Improvements to the physical, living, and play environments on the Walker Needham campus as a result of this grant are expected to have a positive impact on the attitudes and behaviors of the children in the Walker intensive residential treatment program.

2009 Lives In Bloom Gala raises $300,000 to benefit Walker

On Saturday, May 9th, more than 350 people gathered at Westin Boston Waterfront hotel to celebrate Walker at the Lives in Bloom Gala. Thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful friends, the evening raised more than $300,000 to support Walker programs and services. 

After a lively silent auction that featured more than 75 items, celebrity host and auctioneer Billy Costa (of Kiss 108 FM and NECN’s TV Diner) brought his irreverent wit to the live auction, as guests bid on vacation packages, exclusive tickets to local sporting events, and unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Together, the live and silent auctions raised more than $64,000. 

Longtime Walker friend Kari Culhane spoke about her volunteer experiences with children at the Walker School and urged Gala guests to visit the Needham campus program to get a firsthand look at the life-changing work of Walker. 

Board President Ben Thorndike praised the hard work of this year’s Lives in Bloom Gala committee, headed by co-chairs Kimberly Hatfield, Deidre Lockhart and Tara Sherman, who worked tirelessly to make the an evening a success. He also acknowledged the many generous Gala sponsors and underwriters whose support, despite a very difficult economy, enabled the event to exceed its fundraising goal. 

Executive director Richard W. Small paid tribute to the evening’s guests of honor, Linzee and Beth Coolidge, who were honored with the 2009 “Walker Distinguished Community Leadership Award” for their many years of charitable support for organizations serving children in the Boston community and in underdeveloped countries. Calling them “true philanthropists”, Dr. Small told the audience “this remarkable couple offers a blueprint for the ways that philanthropy improves the lives of those among us who are under-served or overlooked.” 

Thank you to everyone who made the 2009 Walker Lives In Bloom Gala an evening to remember. To learn more about the many other ways to support Walker, visit the Walker website. For information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities at the 2010 Lives in Bloom Gala, please contact Nicole Darrell, coordinator of events and volunteers at Walker.