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EDCO Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Newton North High School
360 Lowell Avenue
Newtonville, MA 02460
Contact: Dr. Ed Mulligan, Executive Director
 “How We’ve Spent It”
In the Broadway Musical “Hello Dolly”, the main character Dolly Levi tells Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy suitor that;
“Money is like manure. You’ve got to spread it around for it to do some good.”
The EDCO Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has followed Dolly’s advice quite closely as we spent the $20,000 grant from the Friendship Cup and Easter Seals Association. We have been able to spread it around so that we could begin to focus on some needs of the program that would otherwise have gone unheeded at this point in helping to fund scholarships and awards for EDCO students for the 2004-2005 school year. These will allow our seniors to meet the high costs of college that they are encountering, as well as providing the opportunity to recognize all Edco students accomplishments.
The program was able to use funds purchase new standardized testing that has been used to provide a fresh perspective on how our students are doing in comparison to other Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from around the country. This testing will be able to be used and reused for a number of years to come. In this day and age of government regulated high stakes testing, the opportunity to show accountability through test scores is very important.
The program was able to offer the staff a first time ever, longevity stipend. As we try and maintain the best staff available, it is important to recognize that which the staff does everyday.
In the high school, funds were used to retrofit new LCD projectors that were not able to show the closed captions available on DVD’s and videotapes. The closed captions make all of the films being used in the classroom accessible to the Deaf and Hard Hearing students.
New computers have been ordered for the middle school classrooms used by the EDCO Program. These computers will be available for student as well as staff use.
Finally, the EDCO staff is working on a guest lecture series that will include both professional development mentors and role models for students.
The program feels very fortunate to have been the recipient of this grant. We feel that all parents, students and staff connected to the program have benefited in a number of ways. The grant has helped to make a great program even better. Thank you!
Deaf Catholic Community
Archdiocese of Boston
2121 Commonwealth Avenue
Brighton, MA 02135-3193
Contact: Fr. Michael Medas
 “Empowered by our grant from the Friendship Cup we launched the first ever Deaf Catholic Youth Ministry and Outreach program. Literally this is a dream come true. In the past we had high hopes and initiative to create a ministry of outreach and support for deaf youth but no funds to make it a reality. A successful deaf youth spiritual awareness day, assistance to a parish in reaching out to deaf youth in their area, establishment of a Deaf youth planning committee, education for adult leaders, and sending two of our youth members to a national Deaf Catholic youth leadership training week in Michigan area but a few of the ways the financial assistance from the Friendship Cup has propelled us forward. Without the support of the Friendship Cup, all of this would still b dream and the spiritual lives of these young people would not have been enlived.”
Rhode Island School for the Deaf
Providence, RI
Contact: John Plante, Executive Director
 The Rhode Island School for the Deaf is very excited to once again be involved with the Friendship Cup Tournament o Benefit Deaf Children. Proceeds from last year’s tourney truly enriched the learning experiences of Deaf children at RISD. Our seniors, as part of their Senior Art History Trip were able to attend the Broadway production “Wicked”. A group of seven of our high school students attended the week-long Close Up program in Washington, DC. We are also planning for up to four of our middle school students to Deaf Leadership Camps this summer. In June, our entire Middle School will also take part in a two day camping trip and whale watch on Cape Cod. Elementary School students have attended a Circus in Boston. Friendship funds will also be used to cover the costs of our school wide BBQ this spring. Most recently, funds were used to cover the cost of a performance by the Little Theatere of the Deaf. We anticipate the balance of the award to be used with our Family Guidance Program.
Other Organizations and recipients:
- N.E.A.D.S
- WORLD YOUTH DAY
- LEARNING CENTER FOR DEAF
- ST. AUGUSTINE FOR DEAF, VT
Thank you once again for your kindness and generosity.
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