Mark your calendars! HMS School is gearing up for our 3rd Annual Community Day, and we can’t contain our excitement!
- When: Sunday, October 6th, from 11 am to 2 pm
- Where: 4400 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia PA (in our backyard on the Chester Avenue side of our building)
- Who can attend: This event is open to the public and is 100% FREE
- What: We’re celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day and the conclusion of our biggest fundraiser of the year!
World Cerebral Palsy Day is dedicated to raising awareness for individuals living with cerebral palsy (CP). Although CP is typically diagnosed within the first two years of a child’s life, more adults are currently living with it than children. Because of this, HMS takes great care in its approach to education, ensuring that each student practices functional life skills that can be taken with them into adulthood, which inspired this year’s campaign: “Cerebral Palsy doesn’t end at childhood.”
Why Celebrate?
HMS School has always honored World CP Day. In the past, we hosted 5K runs to celebrate and raise funds for the school. Over the last three years, we’ve created a more inclusive and engaging event that invites the community to join us in celebrating the unique abilities of our students and families.
We celebrate World CP Day because it serves as a platform to raise awareness, support those living with CP, and advocate for greater inclusion and understanding.
About Our 3rd Annual Community Day
This year’s Community Day is shaping up to be our biggest and best yet! We are thrilled to have received overwhelming support from both new and returning sponsors. This event is our way of giving back to the community that keeps our programs running, as we continue to fulfill our mission of educating and nurturing children and young adults with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.
On this day, you can expect a fun-filled experience with activities like pumpkin painting, slime making, face painting, a therapy pony, tie-dyeing shirts, and a community mural. We’ll also have a quiet zone, game zone, and live performances by Ants on a Log and Matthew Quarles. Plus, enjoy a silent auction, photo booth, prizes, delicious food, exciting entertainment, and a new highlight: pieing our Executive Leadership Team!
Our Fundraising Campaign
This year, our goal is to raise $70,000 to support the programs and services at HMS School. This year’s fundraising campaign focuses on the essential services and programs that support our students beyond the walls of HMS. Because cerebral palsy doesn’t end at childhood, our transitional support services, starting at age 14 and provided by our Transitional Specialist and Social Workers, play a critical role in preparing students for life after they age out of our day school curriculum. We emphasize community collaboration, independence, and functional life skills to ensure our students thrive.
Hear from Our Director of Community Engagement
Ceciry Rodriguez Pimentel, our Director of Community Engagement, shares insights into the importance and impact of community support at HMS:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/M3BUg1r2_lE?si=ZsD2wE1EPAV1q6Md
Join Us in Raising Awareness for Cerebral Palsy
Not just on World CP Day, but throughout the year, HMS School is committed to making connections with the community and bridge the gap for our students. You don’t have to know someone with CP to join the movement. Simply sharing or engaging with the content we post on social media helps spread the word about the incredible work we do and the abilities of our students. (@HMSSchoolCP on all platforms)
You can support HMS by:
- Donating to help us reach our goal of $70,000
- Advocating for inclusion, accessibility, and equal access
- Helping us make connections with other organizations
- Volunteering during Community Day or throughout the year
- Joining the HMS community through our email list and spreading the word to friends, family, and coworkers about HMS and cerebral palsy
Our Generous Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our financial sponsors for supporting Community Day:
Reinard Insurance Agency, Donegal Insurance Group, Independence Blue Cross, Ross Feller Casey, LLP, Wawa, Liberty Valley Farm, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, The Arts League, Ampro, Wacky Pixel Booths, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Mutual of America, Univest Financial, Freedom Concepts, MCS Strategies, New Avenue Foundation, and ShopRite of Whitman Plaza.
Food and beverages will be provided for free by:
Renata’s Kitchen, Clarkville, Geno’s Steaks, Allegro Pizza & Grill, Dunkin’, Milk Jawn, Humpty Dumplings, and Mood Cafe.
For more information, visit our official Community Day page: www.hmsschool.org/communityday
