Julie Billiart Schools listed in Crain's 2020 Giving Guide

Monday, November 02, 2020

"The past year has been challenging for all sectors, but especially for Northeast Ohio’s nonprofit community. Not only did most organizations face increasing needs, they were faced with unprecedented challenges in terms of fundraising. The 2020 Crain’s Cleveland Business Giving Guide is designed to serve as a one-stop resource for reviewing the various philanthropic endeavors available for giving back to the community." - Crain's Cleveland Business

View Giving Guide

WHAT WE DO: Julie Billiart Schools, a private, Catholic network of K-8 schools in Akron, Lyndhurst and Westlake, educate and empower children with learning differences. We strive to build self-confidence, inspire Christian values and empower students with the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm for lifelong learning.

In addition, our therapists, Board Certified Behavior Analysts and staff of certified intervention specialists work together to bring a whole-child approach to children who need a unique educational experience. Surrounded by strategically designed classrooms, state-of-the-art assistive technology and onsite therapies and activities, Julie Billiart Schools' students learn with the tools to succeed in the classroom, with their peers and at home.

COVID RESPONSE/IMPACT: As Northeast Ohio’s premier schools for children with learning differences, Julie Billiart Schools are setting the pace for how distance learning and socially-distanced learning are delivered, consumed and measured among kids who learn differently. We are currently offering an in-person format, as well as a virtual format for families who need it. Our COVID-19 Response Team meets daily to enact policies and communications that will keep our community safe and uphold our mission of educating and empowering kids with learning differences.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS:
Julie Billiart Schools’ Celebrate Gala: The annual Celebrate Gala is Julie Billiart Schools’ largest fundraising event of the year. Proceeds are used to support tuition assistance for students, ongoing professional development for faculty and staff, and learning environments that help our students succeed. To learn more, visit www.juliebilliartschool.org/gala.

JB Westlake Challenge: In this fiscal year (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021), JB Westlake has a unique fundraising opportunity to help make your gifts go even further, as the Westlake Challenge will match your gifts 2:1. To learn more, visit www.juliebilliartschool.org/westlakechallenge.

HOW TO HELP:
Give: Support our incredible kids. For more than 60 years, Julie Billiart Schools’ incredible students have overcome obstacles and charted their own individual paths to success. This is due, in large part, to generous individuals and community partners whose support lays the building blocks for our kids’ growth and resilience. Your gift immediately and directly supports the academic, social and emotional growth of our kids and sets a foundation for a lifetime of success.

Share: If you’re not able to make a financial gift, we ask that you share our mission with your friends, family and network. Every child deserves the attention and support that Julie Billiart Schools provides. Because of the specialized nature of our education, many do not know about the work we do unless they’re directly affected by a learning difference. Please give us a call to discuss how you can help our kids by sharing their stories.

WISH LIST:

• Tuition assistance: Student tuition assistance is our greatest overall need and gives children access to a JB education
• Technology: Our technology needs include iPads, 3D printers and early coding and STEM tools like Makey Makey. These are used in our classrooms and Makerspace.
• Professional development: Ongoing professional development for our teachers is critical for providing the best education for children with learning and social differences. Since we're able to send teachers to conferences and workshops, our intervention specialists have the most effective and widest range of tools to help children learn and find their paths to success.

WISH LIST CONTACT: Anne Jarrad, ajarrad@jbschool.org