FUNctional Life Skills Room Dedicated in Memory of Judge John Marks

Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC), a nonprofit organization committed to the development, education, and inclusion of children with differing abilities, recently held a ribbon-cutting event to formally dedicate its new FUNctional Life Skills Room at VCLC’s Gallow campus in Levittown in honor of the late Judge John G. Marks, a longtime supporter of VCLC and Hicksville resident who passed away on April 24, 2024, at age 82. Judge Marks, who served as a District Court and Family Court Judge, was exceptionally passionate about VCLC’s mission, according to his daughter Jillian, who works at VCLC as an education coordinator.

The FUNctional Life Skills Room, which was made possible by a generous donation from the Marks family, is a dedicated space where students are taught everyday tasks to instill living skills that will help them become more independent. The new room is a safe and comfortable space with several stations where students ages three to eight learn to develop household skills such as washing dishes, sorting laundry, folding and putting away clothes, tidying up, making a bed and setting the table for a meal. The room also has a separate area for practicing independent dressing and daily hygiene routines.

At the ribbon-cutting, which was held on February 13, 2025, the Marks family was joined by Judge Marks’s longtime friend and colleague, New York State Supreme Court Judge Hon. Gregg Roth, along with VCLC administrators and staff. The event was a true reflection of the Marks family’s and VCLC’s shared commitment to the cause of children’s education and inclusion. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled at the event, a permanent testament to Judge Marks's dedication to the school.

For more information about VCLC and the scope of services or to support its mission of helping children maximize their potential, please visit www.varietyclc.org.

About Variety Child Learning Center
Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters the development, education and inclusion of children who require specialized services. VCLC offers programs at four Long Island preschool-based locations, as well as in the home and community. Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and regulated by the State Education Department, the Department of Health, and the Office of Children and Family Services, VCLC provides a comprehensive range of programs and services that meet the individual educational, therapeutic and social-emotional needs of children with and without disabilities. Programs include early intervention, and preschool and universal pre-K, with evaluations offered for supportive services/ therapies, childcare, and family support. All aspects of a child’s development—from six weeks through eight years of age—are addressed. VCLC’s programs are led by compassionate and dedicated professionals, including special education teachers; social workers and psychologists; speech, physical and occupational therapists; and an experienced administrative and executive leadership team. For more information, visit www.varietyclc.org, or call 516-921-7171.