A Letter of Thanks to the Miller Driscoll PTA Presidents

Dear PTA Presidents Clarissa Cannavino and Susan Price,

I'm pleased to announce that we have $543.00 left to give to the Miller Driscoll PTA from the Scheinmann Family Donation of $750.00. The donation was given toward the sensory movie showings for children with special needs at Wilton Bow Tie Cinemas this past weekend. Each person attending the sensory showings received a free ticket courtesy of the Scheinmann family. The ticket included a Scheinmann family email address, in order to express why the experience was important to them and their loved ones. The Scheinmann family generously requested any remaining funds be given to the MD PTA.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Scheinmann family, who will be using the emails of thanks they receive, as teaching tools for their own children. This gesture of giving, and of inclusion for individuals who may not otherwise have had a family experience that most take for granted, made a difference to over 116 people, and represented over 35 families.

I express my appreciation to the Wilton Parent Advisory Board (PAB) and the Miller Driscoll PTA who worked together with me on this project, advertising for parent volunteers, who were all wonderful, and two TIMs (Top Inclusion Models) from the high school. I also extend great thanks to Samantha Eskenazi from the PTA, and Joann Horwath and Dara Shadowens at Bow Tie Cinema's corporate offices in Ridgefield. The collaboration was a fabulous example of different organizations and communities coming together for a greater good.

As Betsy Smith (a paraprofessional at Wilton Preschool Services) expressed after attending Sunday's sensory showing, "That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, the children did so well and they're all utterly amazing and special; I was deeply touched."

I cannot wait to make this a periodic occasion!

Sincerely,

Cali Burton
Board Member of the Wilton PAB and member of the MD PTA