Please read letter to NECC from the Kresge Foundation

Governor Michael Dukakis and Thomas Hollister Announce that The New England Center for Children has received a $450,000 Challenge from The Kresge Foundation

SOUTHBOROUGH, Ma - The New England Center for Children (NECC), a nonprofit school for children with autism, has received a Challenge from The Kresge Foundation for $450,000 toward building costs of the new Therapeutic Aquatic Center and Conference Center.

Under the terms of the Challenge, NECC must raise $1,053,588 in private gifts by February 2008 to earn the $450,000 grant. Thus far, NECC has already raised $575,000 of the needed amount for the Challenge Grant. To date, private donors have pledged more than $4 million to the Campaign. In a joint statement, Campaign Co-Chairs, Governor Michael Dukakis and Thomas Hollister (EVP & CFO of Global Partners LP), and NECC's Chief Executive Officer & Founder , Vincent Strully, Jr., said "This is a significant commitment from The Kresge Foundation and will provide NECC with substantial credibility and visibility within the philanthropic community. This award is testimony from one of the leading foundations in the country that The New England Center for Children has the mission, the vision, and the people to make it the leading program for children with autism in the country and that it is worthy of support from the entire community."

In December 2003, NECC launched a comprehensive $5 million Capital Campaign to secure funds for the construction of an on-campus therapeutic pool facility to augment its already nationally-recognized curriculum for children with autism. NECC's new Therapeutic Aquatic Center will be an 11,400 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, adapted specifically for the needs of children with autism. The facility will also include conference rooms for faculty, staff, and student use. Construction will begin on the Therapeutic Aquatic Center by April of 2007.

Ric Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, indicated "With the aid of this challenge grant, we hope that your campaign can become an even more strategic opportunity for you to connect with your stakeholders and reach out to new donors, volunteers, participants, and the general community. Your compelling plan to sustain the higher levels of giving after the campaign concludes will help strengthen your organization well into the future."

The Kresge Foundation, based in Troy, Michigan, is an independent, private foundation created by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not affiliated with any corporation or organization. Through its grant making programs, The Kresge Foundation seeks to strengthen nonprofit organizations by catalyzing their growth, connecting them to stakeholders, and challenging greater support through grants. The Kresge Foundations believes that strong, sustainable, high-capacity organizations are positioned to achieve their missions and strengthen communities. At the time of the September 2006 grant announcements, The Kresge Foundation had awarded a total of 155 grants for a total of $96,645,114.

The New England Center for Children joins other prominent institutions in the area that have received grants from The Kresge Foundation, including: Boston Children's Museum, Dimock Community Health Center, and Harvard University.

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. For more than 30 years, NECC has maintained a steadfast dedication to helping individuals reach their potential and live productively; to minimizing dependence and maximizing independence; and to eliminate isolation and increasing social, educational, and employment opportunities through integration into all aspects of community life.

For more information about NECC or the Capital Campaign for a Therapeutic Aquatic Center, please call (508) 481-1015.