Press release from The Essex Foundation

This March, 23 local area teens will be taking the ultimate life skills trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida thanks to the organizational efforts of Valley Unified Buddies and a $10,000 grant award from The Essex Foundation.

Valley Unified Buddies is a nonprofit group made up of Unified Sports—a registered program of Special Olympics—and Valley Buddies. The group provides high school students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities with every opportunity to succeed in school, their jobs, and in life. They are provided a safe space to play team sports while being paired with peer mentors. Together, they enjoy team dinners, movie nights, football game outings, and other organized activities, including a Unified Prom open to other special needs kids from surrounding schools.

“Valley Unified Buddies is so grateful to The Essex Foundation for partnering with us,” said Susan Strecker, president of the non-profit Valley Unified Buddies booster club. “It is only with their support and generosity that our kids will be able to go on this ultimate life skills trip to Disney World. A big part of our mission is awareness and inclusion. The Essex Foundation is a huge part of helping us achieve these goals.”

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most students, the entire trip is designed for them to put everything they've been learning into practice—from following directions to get through security, to displaying proper social behavior while traveling by airplane and during the hotel stay, to planning their time and paying for meals. The cost of $2,400 per student is prohibitive for some. Every $10,000 raised reduces the cost for each of the 21 students by $400. Thanks to The Essex Foundation grant and other community fundraising efforts, the group is that much closer to hitting its $40,000 total goal. Those who wish to donate, can do so online at www.valleyunifiedbuddies.com or by sending a check to Valley Unified Buddies, PO Box 242, Essex, CT 06426.

“It was a unanimous decision by our board members to approve the grant request,” said Bruce Glowac, president of The Essex Foundation. “Even though the request is a little beyond our purview, we felt strongly about doing our part to positively impact young people in our community.”

The Essex Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Essex residents by providing funding for needs not met by other organizations or sources. The foundation relies on donations from individuals, businesses, and other community groups to fund special needs and community projects that benefit Essex residents. More information can be found online at www.theessexfoundation.org or by emailing contact@theessexfoundation.org.