Press Releases

ACES Whitney Academy's 2nd Annual Car Wash

June 1st, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(North Haven, CT – June 1, 2022) ACES Whitney Academy in Hamden is preparing to host its Second Annual Car Wash Fundraiser on Saturday, June 11th, to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut. The two-hour event will be held in the driveway of ACES Whitney Academy, where individuals are invited to get their vehicles washed for the price of $10.

Last year’s first annual car wash fundraiser was a great success and saw Whitney Academy raise over $1,000 for the Special Olympics. Additionally, an anonymous donor matched the raised dollar amount, increasing the total amount to $2,000. This annual fundraising event began with ACES Whitney Academy teaching assistant, Genell Bellamy, who 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 14-21. 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.

“Our Second Annual Car Wash Fundraiser is an opportunity for our staff to work with our community and families to raise money for the Special Olympics,” said John Tarka, Principal at ACES Whitney Academy. “The ability to connect to such a worthy endeavor fills our hearts and our work with purpose and pride.”

Donations generated from the car wash will help the Special Olympics and support their mission to give people with intellectual disabilities a chance to participate and experience the transformative power 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, 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.