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McCaffrey Homes recently seized the opportunity to lend their support and help make the Gould Educational Center's playground more accessible year-around for special needs students. Thanks in part to a $10,000 donation from McCaffrey Homes; the Madera school now has a new shade structure over their playground equipment so it can be safely enjoyed in the extreme heat of the summer months. A celebration and ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, October 2 when the new structure was officially unveiled for the students. In attendance were Robert and Karen McCaffrey of McCaffrey Homes, Charise Hansen Fresno Regional Foundation Program Officer, Al Galvez and members of the Madera County Board of Education, Dr. Cecilia A. Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools, Gould Education Center Principal Lee Ann Jones and many excited students from the school who were anxious to enjoy recess under the new shade structure. "We're pleased to have the opportunity for the community to support our students at Gould Educational Center," said Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. "When the sun was beating on the play structure during the summer, it was just too hot for the students to come out here. Now, students are able to access the outdoors as part of their life skills program. Play and participation in recreational activities is part of their whole learning process." "This is just great. It only took one call to the McCaffreys and the Fresno Regional Foundation and they wanted to know right away what they could do to help," said Al Galvez, Madera County Board of Education member. During the ribbon cutting ceremony Robert McCaffrey, CEO of McCaffrey Homes, shared in the enthusiasm of everyone in attendance when he said, "McCaffrey Homes is honored to lend our support to make the Gould Education Center playground even better for the children. We believe in our community and know there is no greater action one can take then to positively impact a child's life." The Gould Educational Center, run by Madera County Superintendent of Schools, Office of Education (MCOE), is the home for many programs which meet the needs of special education students with moderate to severe disabilities. The facility provides services for students ages birth to 22 years of age throughout Madera County. Therapy clients and classroom programs use the outdoor playground areas to help children develop independence in areas of walking, wheelchair skills, motor development, fitness and socialization. The playground is a place where students, staff and families can gather for social experiences in addition to having fun while promoting fitness. McCaffrey Homes, a local, family homebuilder, is dedicated to building homes that last a lifetime while meeting the needs of homebuyers at every stage of life. With three generations of experience, McCaffrey Homes has built more than 8,000 homes and been honored nationally for the quality of its construction and service. The company has begun work on Tesoro Viejo, a master planned community in Madera County that will be the focal point of the Rio Mesa area. The innovative planned urban community will be the first of its kind in the region; and will grow naturally as Madera grew. A true sustainable, mixed-use destination Tesoro Viejo will offer 5,200 homes, 3 million square feet of non-residential space, 7,000 jobs and more than 400 acres of open space with 15 miles of walking, hiking and biking trails. |
