Each summer the Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA) offers an Art & Music Camp for Special Needs Children. The Gifting Tree Foundation donated $3000 is to expand this program for older children with special needs.
The program is designed to provide creative and artistic opportunities for those with traumatic brain injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, or other physical/cognitive disabilities in Aiken County. This program is offered at no cost to the children’s families.
During the last three years ACA served children between the ages of 5 to 13 through this camp. Unfortunately, ACA had to deny requests for older children and young adults in order to create groups in which the instructor would be able to establish a connection with each child, while being able to adapt to the fluctuating needs of each individual.
With a $3000 donation from The Gifting Tree Foundation, ACA is able to create a very similar program for children and young adults above the age of 13 at no charge to their families. The curriculum is designed with multi-disciplinary content that optimizes each student’s language, attention, memory, executive function and motor control functions.
Don Cheeks, The Gifting Tree Foundation Board Chair, said “We are pleased to partner with the Aiken Center for the Arts to offer a program for these wonderful children. In addition to a creative outlet, this camp gives each child the opportunity to interact with their peers. We wanted to promote the positive self-esteem that comes from having their worked displayed at the Art Center just as the other children who attend the Summer Camp series.”
The Gifting Tree Foundation works to encourage, promote and support collaboration and partnerships for the betterment of our community. The mission of ACA is to inspire and educate by providing unique visual and performing art education experiences and art opportunities for all ages and to meet the needs of Aiken’s diverse populations. We are proud to partner with ACA to grow the arts in Aiken.