JPMF support reaches the special needs community in a variety of ways. The JPMF board understands that providing care for children with special needs can be very challenging for parents and teachers. JPMF has taken advantage of unique opportunities to enhance public services for the special needs population; such as funding the installation of adaptive wheel chairs to create pool access for those with disabilities and sending teachers and therapists to special trainings that help them to better serve children with special needs.

Foremost, the JPMF board believes that all children and their families should have fun and experience life to the fullest. Whether it be through their fun family events, sponsoring "Miracle", a carousel horse at Clemyjontri Park, funding adaptive park equipment in P.G. County, or developing JPMF Splash!, JPMF strives to offer children with special needs fun filled activities and special memories for the whole family!

JPMF Splash! Program

The JPMF Splash! program teaches children, teens, and young adults with developmental disabilities how to be safe and have fun in and around the water.
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In the Community

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Program Update

ASNVA and POAC Water Safety Awareness Event

On Sunday, July 1, 2007 the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund sponsored a table at the Water Safety Awareness event hosted by the Autism Society of Northern Virginia (ASNVA) and the POAC (Parents of Autistic Children) of Northern Virginia. The event took place at the Water Mine at Lake Fairfax and it was a huge success. There were a number of distinguished organizations in attendance such as the American Red Cross, the Fairfax County Park Authority, and the Alexandria Therapeutic Recreation Services Department. This event presented a golden opportunity for the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund to spread the word about the JPMF Splash! program and the mission of “teaching children with disabilities to be safe and to have fun in and around water”.

Snacks and refreshments were also sponsored by the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund so every event patron received Make a Splash program information, signed a program interest list, and had their inquiries answered. It was a great event around water safety, and both the ASNVA and POAC of Northern Virginia send thanks to the JPMF.

JPMF Summer JPMF Splash! Program

The JPMF Splash! program put up phenomenal numbers during this years summer session. With the support of great volunteers and excellent Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) staff JPMF was able to provide water skills and safety lessons for 880 children, teens, and young adults with disabilities. Participants swam Tuesday through Thursday for five weeks of camp and trips to the pool were packed full of fun. Participants swam at the Audrey Moore, Lee District, Mt. Vernon, and Cub Run RECenters, and the staff really took care of us. This summer was packed full of success with a number of participants entering the water for the first time after years of being frightened. Some experienced success by submerging their faces into water for the first time, and some participants experienced success by participating in planned activities. The summer was very successful and we look forward to even more success in the fall.