Annual Campaign

Sam is a 14 year old boy, with a wonderful sense of humor, and an unrelenting drive to reach his potential.  Just like any teenager, Sam enjoys rough-housing with his brother Judah, riding roller coasters, swimming, and going on family outings.  He also is a big fan of Disney movies and Dancing with the Stars.  The tent swing in the backyard is one of Sam’s favorite hangouts.

Sam spent the first 4 months of his life in the hospital.  Sam’s parents, Carrie, a speech pathologist, and Scott, a successful business man, knew that their son’s cerebral palsy diagnosis would be life changing.  “P.G. Chambers School would become a place of hope, comfort and respite and we could not wait for Sam to start,” said Carrie.

“When Sam started, at age 5, he could not walk, and did not attend to peers, teachers and activities.  Today, thanks to the support and dedication of the P.G. Chambers School team of educators and therapists, he is walking independently, manipulating items with more purposeful interactions, he has friends that he loves, is engaged with learning, and uses his augmentative communication device regularly,” shared Carrie.

Carrie vividly remembers the day when she saw Sam for the first time running down the school hallway in his gate trainer.  “We knew that Sam’s unrelenting drive would make milestones like these possible and we could not have been more proud,” said Carrie.

At school, Sam is the first to head to the front of the classroom to use the smartboard.  As a middle schooler, Sam enjoys cooking for the School Café.  His favorite is the mixer which he can operate by moving a switch.  “Sam is captivated by science experiments and enjoys morning movement but would prefer to skip chair yoga and go right to recess,” shared Sam’s teacher, Laura Jaarsma.

Since March 2020, Sam has been a virtual student.  Like so many students, the pandemic has impacted Sam’s therapy and he really misses the in-person social opportunities with his teachers and friends.  While some of Sam’s classmates returned to in-person instruction in July, COVID-19 poses too great a risk for Sam to come to school in person. “We are truly grateful to have the support of our P.G. Chambers School family today and every day,” said Scott.   “The community embraced us as a family and we know Sam is truly loved at P.G. Chambers School.”

Sam will be graduating in the Class of 2021, and the family is excited to watch him seize the many possibilities on the road ahead.  Carrie and Scott shared, “Our son will always need a one-to-one nurse to care for him since he cannot eat or swallow on his own.  And as a family, we may never go out to dinner, go to the beach or take long trips, because it is too challenging for Sam, but we are forever grateful for what Sam has brought to our lives.  Sam shows us every day the power of never giving up and embracing the simple joys of life.”  

Many students with complex disabilities across the country have struggled with a lack of services during the pandemic.  Yet P.G. Chambers School has persevered, thanks to the generosity of our community.  Your gift today will help us continue to meet the needs of students, like Sam, today and continue our important work tomorrow.

Just like Sam, we will never give up.  Thanks to your support, our students will reach their unique potential.

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Our team of educators and therapists brilliantly find the potential in every child, thanks to your support.

P.G. Chambers School staff opened our minds to the many possibilities for our daughter.  With each passing day, Daniela has become more independent.   It has been a life changing experience for us. Daniela’s life has been transformed with the appropriate tools (e.g. voice communicator and therapies), she is now thriving and we could not be more proud. We feel every child at P.G. Chambers School knows they are loved because of the tailored and unique care that the dedicated team of teachers and therapists offer each individual student and family. We are delighted to support the P.G. Chambers School staff so that they can continue to open more pathways of independence for every student. -Shirley Rosenbaum, parent, Daniela, class of 2027.

Your gift of:

$5,000 funds and adaptive transport stroller.

$3,000 funds software which allows a student to control their iPad using their eyes.

$1,500 funds a child’s gait trainer/walker.

$500 funds an iPad readied for a child to participate as a virtual student.

$400 funds a 1-month supply of KN95 masks to keep our children and staff safe.

$100 funds a child’s assistive communication switch.

Your gift of any amount, helps students like Sam, reach their unique potential.