Reach For the Stars Event Raises $80,000 for Children’s Education Center
This year, 200 guests gathered at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville for Reach for the Stars, the annual fundraising event benefiting students from the Children’s Education Center. Altogether with tickets, sponsorships and raffle prizes, the event raised over $80,000 to support the school.
The evening brought together parents, teachers, administrators, and supporters for a night of fun, camaraderie, and prizes. Amongst the excitement were heartfelt speeches from BCCS Board President Al Capra, Director of the Children’s Education Center Denise Gaughan, and sibling speaker Megan Mancuso who shared, in her own words, how the school and the Children’s Residential Program supported her brother and her as a very involved, loving sister.
The Children’s Education Center is home to our school-age program and supports children from 3–21 years old. For parents, teachers, administrators, and families, they develop friendships that become their community. Year after year as their children grow and develop friendships, the families learn from each other and support one another.
The funds from this year’s event will directly benefit two important initiatives. For our entire school community, funds will support the introduction of enriching on-campus, field-trip experiences. These activities are designed to be interactive and fully accessible, allowing every student to participate and benefit directly from their own classrooms and/or school environment. For students aged 13 and older, the school will be launching a Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) Lab in the lower level of the Cissy Birnbaum Building this fall. This simulated work environment provides practical job training across various fields, with about 300 opportunities. The PAES Lab acts as both a career development curriculum and an assessment tool, helping create personalized transition plans for students’ futures beyond BCCS.