4th Annual Smart Walk For Smart Kids A Success

More than 200 participants from across Connecticut and Westchester County, New York joined in the Fourth Annual Smart Walk for Smart Kids on Sunday October 1. The crowd enjoyed an afternoon of community and support for the Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities organization.

“This annual event is a great way to celebrate kids that learn differently and build community among parents who are dedicated to unlocking their children’s potential,” said Jane Ross, Executive Director of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities.

Under sunny skies, the event took place at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Connecticut. As participants strolled the two-mile path along the shoreline, volunteers splashed colored powder, creating a fun ‘color walk’.

“I’ve been supporting this organization for years, and every year I come out the event gets bigger and bigger, and I see more and more families being supported by this wonderful organization,” said Westport, CT First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker.

Families enjoyed crafts, lawn games, refreshments, a photo booth, and more. Representatives from schools specializing in serving children with learning disabilities were present to provide parents with valuable information.

Laura Heneghan, a Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities board member and an attorney who advocates for families, said, “today is important because it brings families together. When families have an opportunity to get into an environment where there are other kids with disabilities, it empowers them to know there are other people just like them, and there are people like us to support them.”

The Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities nonprofit organization helps children with learning and attention differences reach their full potential by inspiring and educating their parents.

“The name Smart Kids was chosen because learning disabilities carry a stigma and events like this raise awareness. We want to convey the important idea that learning disabilities have nothing to do with intelligence,” said Margie Gillis, former Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities board member, and founder and president of Literacy How.

The event raised funds for Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities’ educational programs, youth mentoring, their Countdown to Kindergarten research-based school readiness program, and much more.

“Organizations like Smart Kids, with their focus on providing educational opportunities and networking opportunities for parents, are essential. Well-educated, well-versed, inspired parents is the key, because then they know how to mobilize and get the services that their kids need,” said School psychologist David Sylvestro, who emceed the event.

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities would like to thank its event sponsors, including Silver Sponsor The Bridge Program at Wooster; Bronze Sponsors The Gow School, The Southport School, Literacy How, Fusion Academy Greenwich / Fusion Academy Fairfield, Winston Preparatory School and Ring’s End.

Thanks also go to the Staples High School Orphenians who sang the National Anthem, Wooster School student Abbe Kanfer, for her inspiring speech, and the many volunteers who helped to make the event a success. The organization would also like to thank the event exhibitors Alliance Tutoring, The Anxiety Institute, The Coalition of Families for Inclusion of Lower Fairfield County, Daisy Mae Designs, Sasco River Center, The Stamford Nature Center, The 3DuxDesign TEAM STEAM, Brain Balance Norwalk and expert educator and award-winning author Kristen Ball. Trader Joe’s donated food for the event, and both the Kona Ice Truck and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck donated a percentage of their sales that afternoon.

To learn more or make a donation to Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, visit smartkidswithld.org or call (203) 226-6831.