On Sunday, November 4, I am running the 2018 New York City Marathon. In past years, my goals were simple: Run fast enough to try and qualify for Boston and don’t “bonk” on 1st Avenue in Manhattan and have to walk the last 8 miles. However, for my 10th marathon in November I am running for a greater purpose than my own goals. Specifically, I am running to raise funds for an amazing organization called Wellspring that has helped hundreds of young ladies and their families for more than four decades.
Wellspring is a non-profit multi-service mental health organization that assists individuals and families in working through the emotional, psychological, and educational difficulties that prevent them from establishing and maintaining healthy and meaningful lives. Treatment at Wellspring is aimed toward recovery and return to home, school, and community. Wellspring was founded in 1977 by Drs. Richard and Phyllis Beauvais who sought to create a highly structured but intimate treatment approach for youth with emotional, psychiatric, and behavioral challenges. They envisioned the setting as non-institutional and home-like, where the shared experiences of daily life and relationship could be joined with therapeutic modalities that would respond to mind, heart, body, and spirit. The Beauvais saw each person as an individual, and worked with them to access their uniqueness of spirit and creativity. Following their belief that being related to the land promoted healing, the Beauvais purchased a tract of farmland with a colonial era farmhouse, barns, pastures, and grazing animals.
The Arch Bridge School (ABS) at Wellspring is a private special education school serving children in grades 1-12, accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges and approved by the states of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. ABS has earned multiple commendations from the State of Connecticut’s Department of Education. The school offers core academics and college preparatory courses, allowing students to meet their unique academic objectives while in Residential Treatment or in its Therapeutic Day School. Core academics are taught in small groups by certified teachers, and supported by mental health and behavioral specialists. Emphasis in school is placed on providing a positive learning experience, resolving school-related issues, and preparing the student to return to his or her home school better able to function successfully.
I greatly appreciate any donation to this wonderful organization that has helped so many children and their families.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Vince Foley
