“Just As I Am” Fashion Show
The 7th annual Special Needs Fashion Show, Just As I Am, is held in memory of Jacob Usher, an alumni student with Down Syndrome who passed away due to congenital heart defect at the age of seven. The event provides families with children with special needs the opportunity to strut across the runway, celebrating what makes them special. It provides community awareness about developmental disorders, as well as the need to serve those families in our community. Funds raised from this annual event support our Dr. Shirley P Ritchie Scholarship Fund. It was Shirley’s vision that all children have access to inclusive high-quality early education. Our scholarship helps to provide funding for families who can not afford educational or therapeutic services, adaptive equipment, classroom support and materials, and family support services.
Partners In Learning provides center, home, and community programs to families in and around Rowan County. Through our inclusive center based early education program, we serve over 80 students with special needs or behavioral concerns. This equates to 45% of our enrollment. In addition to the center-based families we serve, we provide family education and support services to over 300 families in Rowan County. It is our mission to provide these critical services at as little, or no cost, as possible.
Please join us in supporting these children and families by making a donation to our Special Needs Fashion Show, “Just As I Am”.