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Read Our Horizons Stories....
JANE: For me, Horizons is a three-generation story. When I was in middle school, my mom became a teacher at a private school, and my brothers and I got to attend free on scholarships. That was the school that launched the first Horizons. Our family was involved in Horizons in those early years, and when Brian and I moved back to the area 20 years later, I got involved as a volunteer and board member. My favorite volunteer memories are from driving students to swimming. You learn a lot in a car full of kids! When the idea of starting Horizons programs in other communities became a reality, I joined the national board and now have the privilege of serving as Chair.
One of my great joys: seeing my own family embrace Horizons. Brian and I have made this our primary cause; Doug worked at the New Canaan program and now supports Horizons; Allison has become our ambassador and does extraordinary work spreading the word and raising funds; and Ricky has just joined our national board!
For almost five years, I hosted a Bloomberg radio program on K-12 education. The more I listened and learned about the inequities in our system and our failure to allow education to be the great equalizer it should be, the more I realized Horizons is doing what works. Will there be a fourth generation of our family involved in Horizons? I hope not. My wish is that in the next 20 years all of us working to disrupt the system's inequalities will succeed and put ourselves out of business!
BRIAN: In the Horizons family, I'm best known as Jane's husband and the father of Allison and Doug. For as long as I can remember, and long before my wife became the National Chair, our family's #1 giving goal - in money and time - has been Horizons and the children it serves. It's been the best investment we've ever made. I love knowing that the children we helped decades ago are now scattered about the country as successful adults. It's personal to us - and I'm asking others to make it personal as well. Please consider helping us expand the work of the most remarkable student enrichment program we've ever known.
DOUG: To me, Horizons is about two things: solving a problem, and enriching the kids lives all around the country. Without direction, summertime can be a serious setback in both the educational and personal growth of kids in low-income households. Horizons helps turn summer into an educational experience, and an incredibly fun and valuable one, too.
My years working at Horizons were among the best times of my life. I moved from summer to summer with the same group of kids, and I became completely invested in their lives and their growth. They taught me about being positive and about appreciating what you have. Even at a young age, they knew how fortunate they were to be part of the program.
Almost all kids arrive at Horizons not knowing how to swim, which can be a difficult and scary learning process. That's what Horizons - and the swimming program - is about; taking something difficult and learning how to master it and even love it. Horizons helps kids and families and gives them a brighter future. Horizons Giving Day helps us expand on the amazing things the program already does.
ALLISON and RICKY: I'm honored to be an ambassador for Horizons! I grew up around Horizons. The first program was at my elementary school. My mom is on the Board; my grandmother was on the Board; my brother and cousin both volunteered at Horizons; my Dad has always been involved; it's a family endeavor, and always has been. To help me understand what Horizons did and why it was so important, my parents made sure my brother and I were always aware we were lucky. We were lucky to be born to parents who could put a lot of resources towards our education. I believe - as I'm sure you do - that all children, regardless of income and luck, should have the opportunity to realize their potential. Since we haven't yet improved our school systems to make that possible, the next best thing is a program like Horizons that can do that job over the summer.
And Horizons does an incredible job. It changes lives and transforms communities. My husband agrees with me! Ricky is now on the Horizons National Board, and getting our friends involved has been one of my greatest pleasures.
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