Grant Saves LifeTown Partnership

Columbus City Schools and the Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center’s LifeTown accepted a $150,000 sponsorship gift to implement the LifeTown curriculum with the school system’s special needs program for this school year.

Columbus City Schools have partnered with LifeTown for 3-years, dating back to the Center’s old location at Kent Elementary School in Central Ohio.

But heading into the 2011-2012 school year, the school system, LifeTown’s largest contracted partner hosting 50-children per day, was pessimistic about having the funding to support the partnership.

The American Electric Power Foundation (AEP) approved a grant to sponsor Columbus City School’s LifeTown 2011-2012 school year, ultimately making it possible for Columbus City Schools to continue integrating the LifeTown curriculum into its special needs programs.

Gene Harris, Columbus City Schools Superintendent, and recipient of recognition at the Oct. 4, 2011 LifeTown event, framed the importance of the program, “Frankly, NOT having the Chabad Center’s LifeTown program this school year would have been devastating to the progress we have made with our special needs children. The LifeTown curriculum fills a very profound educational need – assimilation! How else will these children learn about the intricacies of life?”

LifeTown is a unique safety net program for children living with special needs. It is a hands-on program aimed at assimilating children with special needs into common society through immersed role-play. Facades of common neighborhood establishments (bank, working movie theater, doctor’s office, market, etc.) grace a main street-type setting, and allow children to learn in a hands-on environment.

“Columbus City Schools saw early on how our program impacted the students and their families. We’re humbled by the AEP Foundation’s gift, and thrilled to be able to continue providing this service to these children,” Esther Kaltmann, Executive Director of the Chabad Center and LifeTown explained.

“This really is one of the most unique experiences we can give children who are living with special needs. The children get to practice basic life skills in a safe and helpful environment, and that builds confidence and a sense of self-worth,” said Kaltmann who runs the center with her husband Shliach Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann.

The AEP Foundation is also being recognized at the opening as this year’s LifeTown sponsor. “In today’s economic environment, it takes creativity to piece together a public-private partnership that is meaningful,” said Carl English, AEP Vice Chairman and Vice President of the AEP Foundation.

“When we saw firsthand the work Esther, her staff and the volunteers do for these children, we were very impressed. Children with special needs deserve as a much a chance at success as anyone, and LifeTown helps to pave that path. We wanted to make sure that would continue for our community’s children again this year.”

Ms. Kaltmann concluded, “The soul of all children is full and intact. It just takes different ways to tap that soul based on the child. Children with special needs are no different. LifeTown gives them the opportunity to find themselves.”

The official opening of LifeTown for the 2011-2012 school year was held on October 4, 2011.