Eagleton Students Help Spread Tolerance

At Eagleton, we believe that by nurturing a strong community spirit, we can help boys move beyond their issues and find their voice. That's why as part of the therapeutic process at Eagleton School, we encourage students to become more involved in the outside community as a way to look beyond their challenges and become more connected with others in a positive way. By helping our students get involved in the larger community, we are both encouraging their social growth and instilling a sense of pride in their ability to positively change the world around them.

In the past few weeks, Eagleton students and staff have been involved in two major community projects that we wanted to share with you.

Relief for Japan
Eagleton School and NAPPI International hosted a fundraising event to help support the Red Cross in efforts to provide assistance to the Japanese people affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. On May 13, 2011, the Eagleton gymnasium was filled with generous supporters at the dinner & auction fundraiser. The event included live entertainment, auctions and raffles, and was also a pleasurable time in addition to being a great cause. Over $7,000 in proceeds was raised from the event for the American Red Cross. This support will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of the disaster.

We would like to thank the Eagleton students and staff in arranging and supporting this event. We also acknowledge the generous support from participating individuals and local businesses for donating:
Thank you to: * Karen Allen Fiber Arts * Old Mill Restaurant and Bar * Yoga Great Barrington * Comfort Inn & Suites * Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center * NeJaime's V.I.P. Travel * Grape Finds * Coca Cola and the Boston Red Sox * Aubochon Hardware * Tom's Toys * Bath and Bodyworks * Staples * Robin's on Main Street * PartyLite Candle * The Gypsy Joint * Ward's Nursery and Garden Center * The Marketplace Cafe * Berkshire Bike and Board * Riverbend Cafe * Yellow House Books * Barrington Brewery and Restaurant * Worldwide Market Square * Fuel Coffee Shop * Guido's Market * Domaney's Liquor Store * Trotta's Fine Wine and Liquors * Other Brother Daryl's * US Foods And a Special Thank You to: * Bruce Bona * Kate Leene - American Red Cross * Eagleton Culinary Staff and Students * Eagleton School Maintenance * Radio WSBS * Shiro's Restaurant * Rich Blackmer * Price Chopper * Debbie Brown * Dave and Mary Farrell * Gail Guthrie * Mimi Hassett * Ryan M. * Tyriek * Ann O'Brian * Martin Wadler * Mike Wagner and Team Imagine * Master Brown: Martial Arts Institute * Maureen and Phil Pryjma * Vikki True and Peter * Lori Ann Kueblbeck * Kathie Young * The Mohondro Clan * The Henrikson's * McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus

The Gift of Tolerance
The second recent community project sponsored by Eagleton School was inviting public speaker Marc Elliot, who has Tourette's Syndrome, to give a presentation at the local public high school as a gift of understanding tolerance and acceptance. Eagleton School invited Marc to give his presentation entitled "What Makes You Tic" at Monument Mountain Regional High School. This provided an opportunity to integrate Eagleton students into a traditional high school setting while at the same time spreading a message about tolerance for people with different challenges.

Marc Elliot's message was well received by students from both schools, and provided new insight for our students about the power of self-advocacy in spreading tolerance and acceptance throughout the community.

Reactions from Eagleton Students about Marc Elliot's message included:

It's okay to be different.

Not to feel embarrassed about yourself.

It got me thinking

Marc's message of live and let live is a philosophy by which we all should live.

One step at a time, we can all understand each other.

Eagleton School is a private year-round residential, psycho-educational treatment facility for boys and young men ages nine (9) to twenty-two (22) years, with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder, Communication and Cognitive Delays, Behavioral Disorders, Emotional Disorders, and Learning Disabilities.