We didn’t mean to keep our great news hush-hush. But we discovered some of our best friends and families don’t know that we have DOUBLED the number of children and families we can serve by moving to a brand-new facility designed and built for our needs on 1.56 acres in the Texas Medical Center at Highway 288 and N. McGregor.
The Rise School at 8080 Stadium Drive could only accommodate 60 children age 6 months to 5 years olds. Virtually since we opened 10 years ago, we have averaged 200 kids on our wait list. For families who have spent time on the wait list, you know how heart-wrenching it is to have found just the right environment for your child at last, but be delayed or declined entry because of space availability.
Our new facility should eliminate most of our current wait list, bringing it down to a much more reasonable length and duration for most families.
Our brand new building is purpose-built for us – not a retrofit of an office building. Our small class size will remain the same, but we will double the number of classes and teachers. Plus have therapy rooms, abundant outdoor play space, support space for teachers and staff, and good parking for easy drop off and pick up.
Big dreams don’t come free, but they are worthwhile. The total cost of the facility is $10.9 million for construction, land, equipment and furniture. We are delighted to report we have quietly raised $9.875 million towards that goal over the past two years.
Every child with special needs is so worth this investment. We don’t have to remind you that 40 years ago, many children with Down syndrome or development differences were institutionalized; all were denied an education, resulting in adults who can not read and have very limited options to support or care for themselves. After the Rise experience, not only can our children learn to read, they can finish school and some may attend college, to become hard-working, employable adults who contribute to our country as tax-payers and citizens. When you weigh our children’s contributions to society against the costs of the new Rise facility, the cost is negligible.
Please take a moment and read about the Rise School. If you are interested in contributing please contact Jan Stailey at 713.532.7473 or visit the capital campaign page.
The Rise School is a nonprofit organization providing the highest quality of early childhood education services to children with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities and to children without disabilities.
The Rise School of Houston is located at:
5618 H. Mark Crosswell Street
Houston, TX 77021
For further information contact:
Jan Stailey, Executive Director
Phone: (713) 532-Rise
Fax: (713) 383-7007
Email: jastailey@riseschool.org