Kimberlin Academy for Excellence and Weaver Elementary School were recently the lucky beneficiaries of monetary gifts. Kimberlin received a $5,000 endowment from a generous community member, while Weaver accepted a $2,955 check from a charitable middle school club. Both donations were made with the intention of sending students to the special needs-focused theme park Morgan’s Wonderland.
“I was overcome with emotion when I learned we received the donation,” said Kimberlin Principal Tyisha Nelson. “When I received the check, I cried tears of joy. We have been working very hard this year to raise funds for this field trip.”
Craig Ingram, president of the Plano-based Special Organization Founded to Aid Special Kids board, is the person behind Kimberlin’s contribution. Ingram’s wife, who learned of Kimberlin’s fundraising efforts in the fall, sparked the meaningful surprise, which was presented during a February assembly.
“Morgan’s Wonderland is an exceptional place and the first of its kind. While other theme parks accommodate people with disabilities and special needs, Morgan’s was created with them in mind,” Nelson commented. “Our students will have access to things they could not participate in before. This park has thought of all those voids and unlocked a whole new world for each student through accessible play, sensory stimulation and social development the whole family can enjoy.”
Like the Knights, Weaver’s Eagles will also get that memorable experience, thanks to an unexpected sponsor—the Sam Houston Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).
“My son is in the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) class at Weaver,” said Sam Houston special education teacher Melissa Mains. “This year, they wanted to go to Morgan’s Wonderland, but it does have a lot of cost associated with it. We knew there would be a little bit of an issue raising enough money.”
To help the cause, Mains’ husband started a GoFundMe page and informed Principal Don Hernandez about it. Hernandez then alerted science teacher and NJHS sponsor Teresa Walker.
“When I found out that finances could possibly keep Weaver’s students and parents from going to San Antonio, that just touched my heart,” Walker explained. “From that moment on, I thought my kids could do this as their service project.”
Walker set a goal of $2,500 to get Weaver halfway to their aim of $5,000. Through candy sales and casual dress days from October to February, the group collected much more than they expected.
During a celebratory breakfast gathering March 3 at Sam Houston, Walker and NJHS members presented Weaver’s PPCD class with a 6-foot check. The festive occasion offered the middle schoolers an opportunity to meet the students they supported.
“It was really nice to work on this project,” said eighth-grader Alma Juarez. “It is really emotional knowing that we are helping these kids go on a field trip.”
“I learned that you always need to help someone because you can be in the same situation in the future,” added fellow NJHS member Norma Rodriguez. “We wanted everyone, parents and children, to go on this field trip. I really like to do this, help others. It feels amazing.”
And it felt amazing for the Weaver crew to be the recipient of that kind act.
“I was absolutely thrilled when they announced their donation. I cannot believe a middle school did this for us,” said Weaver special education teacher Sheila McComas. “I hope they know how much we appreciate them. We are now able to take one parent with each child, and it is a wonderful, wonderful thing they have done for us.”
Weaver’s Morgan’s Wonderland adventure kicked off April 8. Kimberlin’s Applied Learning Environment students will embark on their trip April 21-23.