Known for its philanthropy, the Preston Superstore car dealership in Burton donated $3,000 to Geauga ACHIEVE and another $3,000 to the S.T.A.R.S. program in April. An educational program for school-age students with multiple disabilities, Geauga ACHIEVE provides students opportunities to participate in academic and social experiences with peers as well as innovative learning experiences in classroom, school, and community settings. ACHIEVE is an acronym for All Children Included in Educational and Vocational Experiences.
With the donation from Preston, Geauga ACHIEVE purchased six new computers for classroom use. “Technology helps our students with physical and cognitive impairments access academic and social experiences in which they may otherwise be unable to participate,” said Robin Ludwig, Geauga ACHIEVE Supervisor. “It allows us to provide our students with the best opportunities to achieve success.”
The S.T.A.R.S. educational program is available for students age 5-22 with a medical diagnosis of autism. S.T.A.R.S. is an acronym for Specialized Teaching for Children with Autism and Resource Services. “Our classrooms are focused on meeting the needs of students by setting high expectations in the areas of academics, social communication, employment, and behavior,” said Dana Jancik Eggers, S.T.A.R.S. Program Director. “Preston’s support allows us to build tasks, buy adaptive supplies, plan community trips, and order technology in order for our students to apply skills learned within the classroom to meaningful, everyday life activities.”
Geauga ACHIEVE and S.T.A.R.S. are programs of the Geauga Educational Service Center, located at 470 Center Street (Bldg. 2), in Chardon. For more information, visit the website .
Pat Preston, owner of the Superstore for more than 20 years, has also donated to St. Helen’s Church, DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children in Middlefield, Geauga County public schools, youth sports programs, UH Geauga Medical Center, the Wounded Warrior Project, police officers, and more.
Photo information: A Geauga ACHIEVE student exercises in the Play Blue Fitness Center at Timmons Elementary School. Photo Courtesy Geauga ACHIEVE.
