Fundraiser Letter   

Westfield Parent Teacher Council/SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
2001 - 2002                                716 Knollwood Terrace ~ Westfield, NJ 07090 ~ 908-233-2050

January 2002                                                        

Dear Friend:

            On Thursday, April 18, 2002, we will be holding our ninth annual AWARENESS EXPO!  The Awareness Expo is an evening of workshops presented by specialists from the professional community who generously donate their time to speak on a variety of topics related to children with special needs.  Parents, educators and professionals from Westfield and many of the surrounding districts attend the Expo, which is free and open to the public.           

The Awareness Expo is our annual fund-raiser.  The Katherine E. Cuthbertson Memorial Fund was established several years ago in memory of ten-year-old Katie Cuthbertson, a Westfield resident and one of the first students to pioneer inclusive education in the State of Jew Jersey.  Although she faced many challenges - blindness and neurological problems - Katie experienced life with a pure and simple joy.  Growing in pride and a sense of self-confidence, she taught us about friendship and a supporting community.  With the assistance of her family, her many friends, her teachers, the Westfield Board of Education and its Special Services Department, Katie was able to be included in all regular classroom activities at McKinley School.  She was a remarkable girl who brought new insights to the field of Special Education.  

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we continue to honor Katie’s pioneering spirit.  Each year the Special Education Committee presents a limited number of monetary awards to eligible Westfield high school seniors. Unlike academic scholarships, this award recognizes the student's personal achievement and growth through both their schooling and outside activities.  Additionally, the fund allows us to provide barrier-free initiatives in the schools and/or free educational programs for parents and teachers. 

            We hope you will consider sponsoring our program by placing a message (of your choice) in the Expo Program.  To do so, complete the enclosed form and mail it, along with your tax-deductible donation, to: PTC – Special Education Committee, 716 Knollwood Terrace, Westfield, NJ  07090.  Please make your check payable to:  PTC - Special Education.   Donations received after April 5, 2002, while greatly appreciated, cannot be included in the program due to printing schedule.  

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,   

V. Starr Ross
Co-Chair