SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. – On Friday, June 20, 2008, The New England Center for Children (NECC®) formally opened the “Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center,” the first building in Massachusetts to be named after the former Governor, with a Dedication Ceremony marking the occasion.
Governor Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, attended with more than 200 friends and supporters, including Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, to mark this milestone occasion for Massachusetts and the NECC.
“The naming of the Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center is a fitting and much deserved tribute to a great man,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Governor Dukakis’ advocacy on behalf of children with disabilities and the New England Center for Children is admirable and serves as an inspiration to all of us.”
“This is a fitting tribute to Mike Dukakis whose advocacy on behalf of children with disabilities didn’t stop when his time as Governor ended. If you want to measure Mike’s character, just look at his work to ensure that educational services are available to all children. I am proud to be part of the ceremony. It is a deserving honor for a deserving man,” said Senator Kerry.
“The naming of this wonderful new facility for Governor Dukakis will be an appropriate and enduring recognition of his achievements during his administration and his work on behalf of the NECC and children with disabilities,” said Robert K. Sheridan, President and CEO of The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts and a member of the NECC board of directors.
Governor Dukakis’ leadership as Co-chair of the Capital Campaign is testimony to his unwavering support and belief in the mission of NECC. When NECC was founded nearly 33 years ago, Michael Dukakis was serving as the newly elected Governor. He believed that children with disabilities should not be confined in institutions, but should live in communities. His administration was instrumental during the mid 1980s in assisting NECC during the implementation of its community-based model of education for children with autism.
In 2006, Governor Dukakis accompanied Vincent Strully, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of NECC, to Troy, Michigan to present NECC’s case for an Aquatic Center to The Kresge Foundation which resulted in a $450,000 Challenge Grant from the foundation. This gift, which has led to the receipt of more than $1,000,000 in additional donations, is attributed to the Governor’s direct involvement in this Campaign. Along with co-chair Thomas Hollister, CFO and COO of Global Partners, the Capital Campaign raised $5,500,000. It is through their leadership that the children of NECC can now “swim into a brighter future.”
Vincent Strully, Jr. said, “Governor Dukakis has long believed in the effectiveness of our program and continues to serve as one of NECC’s most loyal ambassadors. We are proud to be able to recognize his support throughout the last 33 years by putting his name on our new building for everyone to see as they drive along Route 9.”
This Aquatic Center, complete with an indoor pool, locker rooms, and conference center, complements NECC’s strong academic and clinical programs by providing students with equal excellence in physical education. The New England Center for Children is committed to finding innovative ways to promote students’ independence. An on-site swimming pool enables students to experience the various benefits of swimming as an opportunity for exercise, learning life skills and water safety on a more consistent basis.
The New England Center for Children provides state-of-the-art education and individualized treatment, with care and respect, for children with autism, pervasive development disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s Syndrome. Since 1975, NECC has maintained a steadfast dedication to helping individuals reach their potential and live productively; to minimizing dependence and maximizing independence; to eliminate isolation and to increasing social, educational, and employment opportunities through integration into all aspects of community life.
For more information about NECC please call (508) 481-1015 or visit www.necc.org.
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