Bowling
Green, Ky. - “Excuse me. It sounds like you need money, and I have funds.”
These were the first words Suzanne Vitale heard from Leo Govoni, director of the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration in Clearwater, Fla. In January 2006, Vitale, a volunteer who has spearheaded the development of the Clinical Education Complex at Western Kentucky University, was attending the fourth annual International Conference on Education in Honolulu. Always one to advocate for the CEC, she struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger in an elevator. Somewhere between the 24th and 14th floors, Govoni overheard the conversation, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today the CEC announced a $750,000 commitment from the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.
According to Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, this commitment includes $500,000 toward the completion of the CEC and $250,000 in support of an endowment for the Kelly Autism Program, which is housed within the CEC.
“The CEC, which officially opens its doors this week, is an interdisciplinary and collaborative project that will create a comprehensive clinical setting for education and health and human services professionals,” Hiles explained. “It builds upon a strong tradition at WKU to meet local community needs, fill service delivery gaps, provide opportunities for applied research, and enrich both undergraduate and graduate students’ educational experiences through an interdisciplinary team approach.”
The CEC building, located at a former business complex on 14th Avenue and Adams Street, will serve as an important extension of WKU. In addition to the Kelly Autism Program, it will house the Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program, the Communication Disorders Clinic, the Early Childhood Center, the Family Counseling Clinic, and the Family Resource Center.
Hiles said the Kelly Autism Program (KAP) is a vital part of the CEC. “The KAP has a goal to help young people with autism effectively transition to a purposeful, fulfilling life after their public school years are over,” he explained. “Individualized programs for these young people strive to increase interactive social skills, community participation, opportunities for recreation and leisure activity, therapeutic vocational skills, and access to meaningful interpersonal relationships, all for the purpose of enhancing their overall quality of life beyond the final years of public school.”
Govoni said the CEC and the KAP directly support the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration’s philanthropic objectives.
“The Center provides trust services for individuals through special needs trusts,” he explained. “When an individual passes on, the non-profit retains the funds. We use those funds to help organizations that provide real, grassroots services to their communities.”
After Govoni explained the Center’s functions to Vitale during their elevator ride, he left her with his card. It did not take long for her to get back in touch with him. She traveled to Clearwater to meet with him, and he later made a trip to Bowling Green to learn more about the CEC, and to meet faculty and staff who will be providing services to the six parts of the CEC as well as members of the Bowling Green community who have been active in raising the funds to make this facility an a reality.
Ms. Vitale and John Kelly, whose volunteer and financial support were instrumental in launching the Kelly Autism Program, met with Govoni to discuss the programs in more detail. Hiles praised Ms. Vitale, Kelly and Govoni for their volunteer and financial support and for their assistance in securing this gift.
“After a tightly scheduled series of meetings, Mr. Govoni said he ‘spent a week in Bowling Green one day,’” Suzanne said with a laugh. “His special interest is in the young people who will be helped through the Kelly Autism Program. His generosity will make possible the completion of critically needed space in the new CEC building, and will add to the endowment for the future support of the program.”
Mary Lloyd Moore, director of the Clinical Education Complex, added her appreciation for Govoni and the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration. “This gift will certainly make a huge impact both the service delivery offered at the Kelly Autism Program and the range and amount of services offered,” she said. “This gift will not only have an effect on the Kelly Autism Program but also on all programs offered at the Clinical Education Complex. We are most grateful for his vision and generosity.”
Govoni calls the CEC a model that can be used around the country to help young people after they are past their secondary education and their interaction with their local school systems.
“I have never seen a program like this one,” he said. “Once we saw how special it really was, we knew we needed to get behind it. We are truly excited to be a part of it all.”
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