Chapter members pose with Lafayette School Board members and administrators on April 24 for a check presentation.
Pi Kappa Phi members presented a $3,000 check to the Lafayette School Board on April 24 to assist in special needs classes at Jefferson High School.
More than 20 chapter members attended the school board’s monthly workshop. There, Lafayette Jefferson High School special needs teacher praised the chapter members for assisting in classes for nearly a decade.
President Chad Hellan speaks to school board members during the April 24, 2017, check presentation.
“It’s been nine wonderful years that Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity has included my class as a recipient of The Ability Experience (programming) to serve those with disabilities,” Alyssa Montgomery said.
“Most of my students have moderate cognitive intelligence that requires one-on-one assistance with basic skills such as simple communication, reading and math or even telling time,” she said. “Today there are so many demands and working with limited funds and staff that it’s challenging. However, the presence of the Pi Kappa Phi brothers has been, and continues to be, a blessing.”
The $3,000 donation represents one-quarter of the chapter’s 2016 fund-raising for The Ability Experience. The money will be used by the students with various physical and cognitive disabilities for community outings, food, basic toiletries and supplies. Since 2009, the chapter has donated $28,189 to the school board.
“Oh behalf of myself and students at Jefferson High School I would like to say ‘Thank you Purdue Guys’ from the bottom of our hearts,” Montgomery said. “Thank you for your sincere kindness and overwhelming generosity.”
President Chad Hellan spoke on behalf of the chapter members.
“The assistance that my brothers provide is very immeasurable in terms of numbers and how we affect the children, but it’s not immeasurable in the experience that we take away,” he said. “The life skills, the value of our friendships and knowing what it means to have the relationship we have is all made greater with our interactions with the students in the life skills classroom at Lafayette Jefferson High School.”
Nearly every school day, the chapter sends two or more brothers to assist the special education classes.
School board member Robert Stwalley congratulates chapter members on nine years of assisting the special needs classes at Jefferson High School.
The school board members were very appreciative of the chapter’s service and donation. In fact, Robert Stwalley who has served on the elected board since 2003, went out of his way to talk to various chapter members after the presentation. He congratulated them and their predecessors for so many years of continuous volunteer service.
Special Education Department Head Steve Beeler, a Pi Kapp alumnus, explains to the school board about the check presentation on April 24.