It's a Wonderful Life Dr. Scherer

Dr. Patricia Scherer has been helping Deaf Children for over 40 years reach their potential through the Arts, Mental Health Programs, and a school for children with multiple disabilities.  She began her career training teachers of the Deaf at Northwestern University for over 14 years, and then moved on to creating private programs with the $1,000 contribution by a local parents group for Deaf children .  These programs were non-existent at the time.  Through her hard work she has created four separate businesses.  Actress Marlee Matlin got her start in ICODA's theater program and later went on to win the Academy Award for best actress.  Dr.Scherer has listened to and advised parents with her wisdom at the wee hours of the morning when they had crises with their children, never asking for money in return.  She has sacrificed her own personal money to continue to bring these programs to Deaf Children across the country.  Anyone who knows her or her family also knows her commitment to the Deaf Community.  Due to the overall bleak economic conditions, including  the state of Illinois, Dr. Scherer's programs are at risk of closing and she is personally in danger since she fiscally put her life on the line for these programs. The current circumstance reminds me of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life".  When George Bailey was in trouble, all of the people whom George helped rallied around him and put their funds together to show George how much his sacrifices meant to them.  Well, it is time to rally around Dr. Scherer and show her that indeed her sacrifices do matter.  You can let her know by making a financial contribution to help her get out of this current situation and continue to bring much needed programs to  Deaf children, and adults.  No contribution is too small.  We all matter!!