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Student Success: Brielle Connects and Grows

Brielle's early years began like many others. She happily engaged with her family and spoke a few words like yes, no, mommy and daddy. But shortly before her third birthday, everything changed. Brielle stopped talking, making eye contact and engaging with those around her. "It seemed like she was suddenly disconnected from everything around her. She could be sitting or standing right next to us but seemed far away," explains her mother, Brandi.

This school year, Brielle is in her second year at Connections and she's a different child already. See how things have changed and what that's meant for her family.

Community Rallies at 2024 Fire Truck Pull, Raising $30,410 for Autism Support

The 2024 Fire Truck Pull, held Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Gardens Park in Palm Beach Gardens, was a huge success! Teams of first responders, business leaders, college athletes, Connections families and more came together for a day of competition and philanthropy. This year’s event raised an impressive $30,410 to benefit students and adults at Connections!

Teams competed to see which could pull a real fire truck fastest in two events — 30 feet in fastest time and 30 feet with lowest combined weight of pullers on the rope. Participants also competed to see who could raise the most money for our nonprofit.

It was an amazing contest of strength and teamwork, and the 2024 Fire Truck Pull Champions are:

🏆 Fastest Pull — 1st Place — Palm Beach Gardens Police

2nd – Fit & Psyched

3rd – BluEdge Bolders

🏆 Lowest Combined Weight Pull — 1st Place — Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue

2nd – Palm Beach Gardens Police

3rd – Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Palm Beach Gardens

🏆 Highest Fundraising Team — 1st Place — ZAZ Squad

2nd – Fit & Psyched

3rd – Team Noah

🏆 Highest Fundraising Individual — Zach from ZAZ Squad!

We're so grateful to everyone who participated — pulling, fundraising, sponsoring, volunteering and cheering on this year's competitors. Every single person makes a big difference for student and adults with autism!

See photo highlights on our Facebook page (you'll see four photo albums by topic) or in Florida Weekly.

Expanding Access to Arts for Our Students

We're grateful to be able to continue working with Arts4All to expand our students' access to fine arts instruction.

Arts4All is an incredible nonprofit that helps people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. They visit our charter school students (preschool-8th) weekly and engage them through fine arts lessons.

This month, our students had fun learning about rhythm and dance with Nicole and Ryan from Arts4All.

100+ Women Who Care Fill Our Empty Shelves

This month, the 100+ Women Who Care — Jupiter/Tequesta Chapter generously donated a wide range of essential school supplies to Connections. They provided crayons, markers, paper towels and much more, replenishing our empty shelves just in time for the new school year.

Many of our students’ families cannot afford necessary supplies, making this donation incredibly impactful. Thanks to these compassionate women, our students, teachers and staff are equipped with the tools they need to start the year successfully.

We are deeply grateful to the 100+ Women Who Care for their support and dedication to our school community. Your generosity is making a significant difference!

Local Life Scout Gives Us a Sensory Garden

Connections how has a beautiful sensory garden, thanks to Summer Kennedy — a Life Scout from Troop 132 in Palm Beach Gardens and her crew of helpers.

Each garden bed is themed around either touch, smell or taste, giving our students an opportunity to engage all of their senses in a safe and beautiful manner.

This garden was Summer's Eagle Scout project, and we're grateful that she chose to make a difference on our campus!

A New Year With Big Brothers Big Sisters!

We've kicked off a new year of the Beyond School Walls program with our friends from Inlet Grove Community High School and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties!

Through this program, a group of Inlet Grove students will shadow our teachers and staff this year, learning more about potential careers in special education and therapeutic services while helping at our school.

This program has been incredibly meaningful to our school and previous year's participants, and we're delighted to continue being part of the Beyond School Walls program.

Cooking Up Independent-Living Skills at Recipes for Success

A group of our students and adult clients are back in the kitchen at Recipes for Success where they learn important independent-living skills and work toward a potential job in the culinary field.

This adaptive culinary program by Extraordinary Charities teaches cooking techniques plus knowledge about nutrition, food safety and kitchen management.

This month, our students and adults learned how to make pasta from scratch!

Save the Date: 2025 Hearts & Hands Gala

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, and make sure you're part of our best gala yet!

This year, we celebrate Connections' 10th anniversary of serving students with autism. Join us to celebrate the growth and successes of our students and clients and to look forward to the exciting milestones we will achieve together in the next decade!

2025 Hearts & Hands Gala

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025

6 p.m.

National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach

Save the date and watch for ticket sales opening soon!

www.connectedpb.com