 An Evening to RememberOur buddies from The Buddy System of Davidson College, who share valuable time at the Buddy Club each week with our children, also spearhead the annual Buddy Benefit 'A Cappella' concert to help spread awareness and understanding in our community and raise funds for children with special needs. Joining with Kappa Sigma Fraternity and various campus A Cappella groups, they create an evening to remember... not only for families caring for children with special needs but indeed for the entire community. The funds raised are made available via Angels in Need to families in our Lake Norman community in the form of Buddy Scholarships for the children to attend therapeutic camps and programs Read more about the benefit at...
Comments (from Buddy Benefit Attendees & Buddy Scholarship Recipients)2012 3rd Annual Buddy Benefit"... hats off to you, AGAIN, on your wonderful work with our children and the entire DAV community." "The concert and all that surrounded it was just magnificent!! I just love the way you celebrate these wonderfully special children in this way. Thank so much for including me in that celebration. It was an honor!!" "I just wanted to thank you very much for inviting us. Ana did FABULOUS....as her current teacher, past and future teacher, I was so VERY PROUD of her. She was amazing and really shined. My boyfriend said it really opened his eyes and was a great experience for him. He was totally bragging on the program. I think it is truly amazing what all the volunteers and kids have accomplished. We loved attending and look forward to next year." Bailey Middle School EC Teacher 2010 2nd Annual Buddy BenefitSeptember 9, 2011 A Community Working Together
Dear Buddies,
Because of your efforts at last year’s Buddy Benefit, you made it easier and more affordable for children with special needs in our community to attend the various summer camps in our area, which are designed specifically to meet their needs. These children have limited choices and opportunities when compared to those of their “typical” peers. And their parents, more often than not, are faced with more financial burdens as their children often require such things as occupational, behavioral, speech, physical and vision therapy; evaluations; tutors; doctor visits; medications, etc.
We are grateful for the partnership between Angels in Need and The Buddy System and for all of you who work so diligently alongside us to help transform this Lake Norman community into one that is, not only more accepting of those with special needs, but is actually an exceptional place to parent these children and an exceptional place for these children to grow up.
Below are a few comments from some of the parents whose children attended a 2011 summer camp because of your help. Please take a moment to read them and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
With gratitude, Angels in Need
"[Our son] had such a wonderful experience at the Music and Art Camp and then the Learn to Bowl camp. He really connected to his counselors this year and had a wonderful time making a craft that made music and then bowling the next week. We really appreciate the scholarships that allowed him to attend the camps this summer. The camps gave him a chance to participate in activities with peers from his class at Davidson and also meet new peers."
"We're so grateful for the Buddy Scholarship that was used this summer for the Sports and More camp. [Our son] attended the camp all summer and we believe it was a critical part of his success and well being. He does well with structure and he enjoyed having fun activities and making new friends. Thank you Buddies for all that you do. It means so much to us all."
"[My daughter] is a 10 yr old girl with Williams Syndrome. She used a buddy certificate this summer to attend the Sports and More camp in Concord. It was a 3 week camp for her. It’s a new camp and I was a bit unsure how it would go. But she had a great time! Everyone there was very kind and she even made a ‘boyfriend’. She really was quite taken with one of the other campers! It was a great experience and she wants to go back again next year. They attended a baseball game, had Zumba classes, went to a water park, a bouncy house place and got to hang out with each other having fun. She was accepted for all aspects of who she is and it was stress free summer time fun. Stacey worked hard at putting this experience together. And she had several volunteers who gave of their summer time to be buddies for the kids. The best part – for Mom – is that they actually came to my house to pick up my girl and brought her home! In 10 years, I’ve never had that luxury. It made those few weeks so much easier in many ways. Thanks for all your work to allow these certificates. They are a blessing to families! When you have a kid with special needs, there are so many extra expenses, every savings helps! Thank you for all your efforts! They are much appreciated! " "We are grateful for the scholarships that were offered to our daughter Jordan.. She really enjoyed the two camps tumble and arts/w music. The volunteers really were a great group of people with there willingness to understand and help. My family was happy watching her make friends and be herself." "Hi everyone, My son had such a fantastic experience at the Sports and More Camp in Concord this summer! He spoke often about the other kids he met and really looked forward to going in the morning. Stacy was so accommodating with transportation and the counselors were great. Thanks so much for making this summer camp possible for [my son]. It is truly appreciated." "My son so enjoyed splashing around the pool at the aquatic center during the swim camp/lessons. He was able to get the one-on-one attention in the pool that he needed. Thank you, Buddy Club, for providing the funds for him to attend the camp." "Words cannot express how thankful I am for [my son's] camp experience this past summer. I never would have had the money to send him so I am extremely grateful to have gotten a buddy scholarship for him. [my son] never likes anything , but he LOVED camp. He had fun. He loved the trips!! He got up each morning ready to go to camp. Sports and More was a blessing. The staff were amazing and I felt [my son] was understood and cared for there. Thank you so much for the opportunity! We hope to go again next summer!!!" "Thank you for the Buddy Scholarship provided by Davidson College buddies to help [my son] attending the Little Gym Summer Camp. He had a ton of fun there. He loves those physical activites - balance beam, obstacle course, parachute, ..., etc. The volunteers at the camp were very helpful." "[Our daughter]….as always enjoyed her summer experience during her summer adventures at camp. She participated in the Discovery Place Kids camp as well as the Art & Music camp.Although she did not benefit much from the Art & Music camp….I can overwhelmingly say that she had an outstanding time at the Discovery Place Kids camp.She had so much fun at this camp that we had to get a membership.Subsequent to the camp ending, [Our daughter] went EVERYDAY to Discovery Place Kids…..and I would have NEVER thought that she would have enjoyed such an experience.And in the process, she was interacting socially with her peers, which is something she never gets to do. I can never thank the Buddy Club contributors/benefactors enough for the opportunities they have afforded my sweet little girl.Not only is the financial burden relieved from me (the cost of the camp covered), but the excitement and happiness that is presented to [our daughter] is PRICELESS!Thank you so much for supporting our families and making this experience possible. "
"Thanks to the "Buddy Scholarships" our daughter was able to participate in many of the programs offered this summer for children with special needs. Because of the hard work, generosity and partnerships of the young adults at Davidson College, Angels In Need and the Cornelius Parks and Recreation our children had choices. The financial responsibility for parents of children with special needs can be monumental. Costs for multiple doctors, specialists, hospital visits, therapy visits, time and travel to facilities sometimes hundreds of miles away, medication, special equipment, etc. can be thousands and thousands of dollars a year. This in many cases can leave very little or nothing for recreation. Thank you for offering a variety of programs throughout the year, that continue to grow, and thank you for keeping them low cost and in the case of "Buddy Scholarships", no cost, so everyone who wants to, has an opportunity to participate. [Our daughter] really enjoyed meeting each of her very special camp buddies who assisted her throughout her camp weeks. I think she appreciated the independence the camps made her feel, something she could participate in away from her normal caretakers, teachers and therapists, something of her own, kind of like Buddy Club. That has not always been easy to find for our children with special needs, but the work you all are doing is really changing that."
November, 2009... the first Buddy Benefit!
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