For more information, please contact:
Annie Meagle
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
Phone: 314-256-4943
Fax: 314-535-6632
annie.meagle@bgtm.org

STUDENTS AT EDGEWOOD’S HITCHCOCK SCHOOL SELL SWEET TREATS FOR HAITIAN RELIEF

Webster Groves, MO (February 2, 2010) - Devastated by the news of the tragic earthquake in Haiti on January 12, students at the Hitchcock School at Edgewood Children’s Center rallied together and organized a bake sale to raise funds to support the Haitian victims. Each student brought in a variety of baked goods including pies, cookies, brownies, muffins and homemade biscotti. The students also set up a coin jar to collect additional donations.

To date this small school of just 16 students has raised more than $200 in support. The funds will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

The Hitchcock School provides a private school option for nontraditional learners grades 6 through 12. The students have a variety of disabilities, but the majority of them have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum and benefit from the small classes, specialized learning plans and social skills instruction the program offers.

“The activity was a great success,” said Catherine Pilant, assistant director of special education at Edgewood. “In fact, many of the kids donated any change they would have received when purchasing a bake sale item.”

In addition to raising money for Haiti, the bake sale helped the students understand the impact of their individual efforts within a global community. The fundraiser also helped promote empathy, a common deficit in individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.

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About Boys & Girls Town of  Missouri
Founded in 1949, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri is a nationally accredited organization that provides extensive treatment through residential, foster care case management, outreach and family therapy programs for troubled youth with a history of abuse, neglect, severe behavior disorders and psychological problems. The organization's mission to "improve the lives of children with emotional and behavioral problems through superior, family-focused services" is fulfilled through campuses in St. James, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia, MO.  BGTM helps redirect the lives of more than 6,700 boys and girls and their family members annually.  For more information, please visit the website at www.bgtm.org

About Edgewood Children’s Center
Founded in 1834, Edgewood Children’s Center provides compassionate care and treatment to restore children and strengthen families through intensive therapy, education, case management and support services. Many of the children served have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused; neglected; or abandoned. Edgewood offers a broad array of treatment, education, prevention and support services for children and families, active child advocacy, professional consultation and training. Edgewood Children’s Center is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonsectarian, United Way agency. For more information please visit the Web site at www.eccstl.org.