Davids Sr. Band Trip
Donation protected
My
son David is autistic and will be a high school senior this coming school year.
He is an amazing young man who has done so many things that I never thought he
would be able to do. He has played the euphonium since 5th grade. This will be
his 4th year of high school concert band. He is very dedicated to his playing
and practicing. The school band is planning a trip to Disney World next spring;
it will be for fun as well as learning. They will participate in the
"You're Instrumental" workshop where a professional Disney clinician will
examine the skills, attitudes and priorities that are essential to musical
excellence. They will also perform at the Waterside Stage at Downtown Disney.
The package being presented to the group includes a charter bus on which they
will ride for 21+ hours. Because of David's disability, this is not an option.
The band director and I agree that we would need to fly down and meet the group
there. The standard package will cost the parents of "normal" kids
approximately somewhere between $750.00 - $950.00. We will have to pay that
package cost x3 for my husband and I to take him (with a small deduction because we won't be riding the bus) in addition to the added expense of our airfares,
ground transportation, 2 extra nights accommodations due to the activities
schedule, as well as an additional expense because he needs his own room
(sharing a room with other kids is really not a good option for him or the
other kids). This is only 9 months away and neither the band nor the school
will be having any fundraising events to help with the cost, it will be
entirely out of pocket. I badly want to make this happen for him, he is very
excited about this trip and he so deserves this.
UPDATE-Oct 27, 2013: Since creating this campaign 4 months ago, we have raised close to $2000 - just over $1200 of that from donations given by friends, family and even a few strangers that happened to see the link, clicked, read and felt compelled to give to someone they've never even met. For that, I am incredibly grateful. I don't have words to express my appreciation for the help and love shown to my son. David is well on the path to receiving a perfect attendance award for his entire high school career and this past week David received a very prestigious award from his school and John Deere Harvester Works, again just reiterating what a great hardworking, dedicated kid he is, despite his disability, and how much he truly deserves to go on this trip. I continue to be more proud of him with each passing day. I am constantly working hard to grow this fund-working every hour of overtime my company will approve and keeping a tight budget in order to put every dime away that I am able. On top of this expense, I am also about to start the process of guardianship for him which will consist of legal and court costs, I also had an unexpected hospitalization in the mean time which is producing medical bills I was not prepared to pay, and let's not forget trying to provide Christmas for the family. I am not seeking sympathy and was raised not to accept charity, so this whole thing isn't easy for me to swallow but I have to make it happen and I will make this happen for this kid one way or the other, but any help is welcome and deeply appreciated.Thanks for taking the time to read and give if so laid upon your heart.
Thanks...Michelle Cather
UPDATE-Oct 27, 2013: Since creating this campaign 4 months ago, we have raised close to $2000 - just over $1200 of that from donations given by friends, family and even a few strangers that happened to see the link, clicked, read and felt compelled to give to someone they've never even met. For that, I am incredibly grateful. I don't have words to express my appreciation for the help and love shown to my son. David is well on the path to receiving a perfect attendance award for his entire high school career and this past week David received a very prestigious award from his school and John Deere Harvester Works, again just reiterating what a great hardworking, dedicated kid he is, despite his disability, and how much he truly deserves to go on this trip. I continue to be more proud of him with each passing day. I am constantly working hard to grow this fund-working every hour of overtime my company will approve and keeping a tight budget in order to put every dime away that I am able. On top of this expense, I am also about to start the process of guardianship for him which will consist of legal and court costs, I also had an unexpected hospitalization in the mean time which is producing medical bills I was not prepared to pay, and let's not forget trying to provide Christmas for the family. I am not seeking sympathy and was raised not to accept charity, so this whole thing isn't easy for me to swallow but I have to make it happen and I will make this happen for this kid one way or the other, but any help is welcome and deeply appreciated.Thanks for taking the time to read and give if so laid upon your heart.
Thanks...Michelle Cather
Organizer
Michelle Schloer Cather
Organizer
Colona, IL