This year’s Easterseals’ ambassador, Keenan, is a beneficiary of the Lance and Ellen Shaner Child Development Center (CDC) in State College. To help support their work aiding children with developmental delays, Easterseals is hosting a fundraising walk to raise money. Join Keenan and other members of the Easterseals community on Saturday, June 28, for a walk in Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte. Visit www.walkwithme.org/statecollege to register. PHOTO PROVIDED

BELLEFONTE — Just two years ago, Keenan was a quiet toddler who rarely spoke or played with other children. This June, the four-year-old will serve as ambassador for a local fundraising walk that helped make his progress possible.

Now in its fifth year, Walk With Me Centre County raises funds for Easterseals’ programs for children and adults with disabilities — including the State College child development center that helped Keenan find his voice.

The one-mile walk will take place June 28 at Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park, where families, friends and neighbors will come together to raise funds in support of Easterseals’ mission of achieving full equity, inclusion and access for all, regardless of ability.

Now in its 105th year, Easterseals is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare organizations, serving more than 1.5 million people annually. The organization provides outcome-based services for individuals of all ages and abilities, addressing the needs of the one in four Americans living with disability.

The organization provides services for people of all ages, including early intervention and child care, autism support, job training and transportation for adults with disabilities and day programs for older adults. It also offers mental health services, assistive technology, recreation programs, caregiving support and much more.

Keenan, one of the many children benefiting from Easterseals’ work, attends the Lance and Ellen Shaner Child Development Center (CDC) in State College.

A bright and playful 4-year-old, Keenan was experiencing speech and developmental delays. Before enrolling at the CDC, he was nonverbal and often preferred to play alone. His mother, Julia Nash, first learned about Easterseals through a family member while searching for childcare that would be a good fit for their family.

As a single mother, Nash worried a center with highly trained educators and therapeutic professionals might be financially out of reach.

“It was obviously an amazing facility. They just have so much,” she said. “Then they sent me the package, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s actually cheaper than what I’m paying right now at this daycare that doesn’t have all these services.'”

At the time, Keenan was just two years old, and his delays weren’t yet significant enough to qualify for early intervention support. But once they arrived at Easterseals, the center’s director, Carly Pingley, advocated for a second assessment — one that ultimately unlocked the speech and developmental services Keenan needed.

“It’s just been amazing for Keenan,” said Nash. “He is now not nonverbal. He is still delayed, but he is speaking on his own. The progress that he’s made in just the two years that he’s been at Easterseals has just been amazing.”

Keenan now receives speech and occupational therapy, along with specialized instruction tailored to his specific needs through personalized intervention strategies.

The CDC offers childcare and preschool for children both with and without disabilities. Skilled instructors work closely with professionals to deliver a play-based curriculum that nurtures development and learning in a supportive environment.

“What’s great about it is it’s an inclusive program, meaning children that have disabilities and special requirements still get the therapies they need, but they still get to play in a (daycare) atmosphere,” said Colleen Felentzer, communications and events specialist at Easterseals, who is helping organize the upcoming fundraising walk.

According to statistics cited by Felentzer, 10 to 15 percent of children five and under have physical, cognitive, social or behavioral delays, amounting to approximately 3 million infants and toddlers nationwide.

The organization is committed to addressing these challenges and closing the gaps in care and support for individuals with disabilities.

“Easterseals’ whole mission is to lead the way to 100% equity, inclusion and access for people with disabilities, their families and communities,” said Felentzer.

To support that mission – and particularly the work of the CDC in State College – Easterseals is hosting its fifth annual Walk With Me Centre County, a one-mile, family-friendly fundraising walk. Set for Saturday, June 28 at Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park, the walk is Easterseals’ only fundraising event in the State College area, helping to bridge the gap between the cost of running the center and what families are asked to pay.

“It’s something that everybody can participate in, whether you’re in a wheelchair, whether you’re a child, whether you’re an adult,” said Felentzer, “We always make sure that it’s somewhere that’s handicap accessible and that everyone can participate in it – families, friends, neighbors.”

Children’s activities and disability awareness opportunities will be part of the day’s festivities, along with live entertainment by Big Froggy 101, courtesy of Seven Mountains Media. Refreshments including cookies, chips, fruit and drinks will be available, thanks to community donations.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10. Participants can register online at www.walkwithme.org/statecollege. Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 4-13 and free for kids three and under. Each registration includes an official Walk With Me T-shirt, snacks, entertainment and a donation to the cause.

Participants are encouraged to start a team and raise additional funds to unlock incentive prizes. The top individual and top fundraising team will receive special rewards. Miss Pennsylvania International will also join the event to show her support.

For Nash, the event is a way to give back to the organization that has supported her family every step of the way.

“They’ve made me feel like family,” she said. “It’s been a breath of fresh air knowing that I have that support, and I know that he’s learning. It makes me feel like he’s going to be ready for kindergarten and ready to face those challenges.”

For more information about Easter Seals’ State College CDC, please call their phone at 814-238-4434, or contact the Program Coordinator, Natalie Long, at nlong@eastersealswcpenna.org.