Press Releases

ACES Whitney Academy Car Wash Raises Over $1000 for Special Olympics

June 15th, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(North Haven, CT – June 15, 2021) ACES Whitney Academy in Hamden hosted their first-ever Car Wash Fundraiser on June 5th to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut. The two-hour event was held at the driveway of ACES Whitney Academy, where individuals were invited to get their vehicles washed for the price of ten dollars. The fundraiser successfully raised over one thousand dollars for Special Olympics Connecticut. Additionally, an anonymous donor matched the raised dollar amount, increasing the total amount to two thousand dollars.

The pandemic impacted a significant number of nonprofit organizations as fundraising events were disrupted or cancelled, leading to a decline in donations. ACES Whitney Academy teaching assistant, Genell Bellamy, heard on Good Morning America that a nonprofit organization with close connections to her school, Special Olympics, was extremely low on donations. ACES Whitney Academy is a special education school that serves a diverse student population between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one. Many of their students and staff actively participate with or have ties to the Special Olympics organization. Therefore, Bellamy knew that her school community would eagerly join together to support a cause close to their hearts. With the support of Principal John Tarka and Special Education Teacher, Carolyn Nelson, Bellamy’s fundraising idea came to fruition. Staff members rallied behind the event, generating buzz and volunteering to make the car wash a huge success.

The fundraiser was a great step forward towards normalcy for ACES Whitney Academy. The school plans on hosting future events that will bring their students, staff, and community together. Donations generated from the car wash will help Special Olympics recover from a tough year and support their mission to give people with intellectual disabilities a chance to participate and experience the transformative powers of sports.  

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About ACES: 
Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is the regional educational service center for New Haven and parts of Middlesex Counties. Established in 1969, ACES strives each day to fulfill its vision of creating an equitable and socially just world, one life at a time. ACES serves its members districts and others through an ever-growing array of programs, services and schools that meet the needs of a changing educational landscape. As a school district, ACES operates three magnet and eight special education schools. ACES services range from transportation, professional development and school improvement services, technology, translation, international, security, and occupational and physical therapy. ACES operates the Open and Magnet School Parent Choice programs for New Haven County. Its programs include a federally funded Early Head Start Program and ACES ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically disabled adults ages 21 and older. For more information, go to www.aces.org.