Wellesley Parents Support HOPe

Ten years ago, parents of children with developmental challenges were hard pressed to find quality programming for them in Massachusetts, not to mention respite care to give themselves a break from constant caregiving.

So when Wellesley residents Amie and Tim Connelly heard that Paula Kavolius, another parent of a disabled child, was raising funds to build a house where children, teens and adults could receive high quality, caring programming, they eagerly volunteered to help.

“We fell in love with Paula’s mission and knew it would be a resource for us someday,” Amie said.

Paula’s House of Possibilities (HOPe) opened its doors in 2009 on the grounds of the Stonehill College Campus in Easton. In its home-like setting HOPe offers integrated programs of activities and therapies on weekdays for adults and a variety of social programs on the weekends for children. HOPe also brings clients into the larger community for skill building, integration and recreational opportunities.

HOPe’s hallmark program is Overnight Respite (ONR), which gives caregivers much needed respite while their children and young adults (ages 8-21) enjoy a Saturday overnight with their friends. ONR is free of charge to families.

As a teenager, the Connelly’s son Ryan took part in ONR activities. “HOPe provided an opportunity for Ryan to make new friends and strive for further independence while my husband and I benefitted from worry-free, undistracted time,” Amie recalled. “Now that Ryan is 22, he has transitioned his day programming to HOPe, where he is thriving and where the staff members greet him with enthusiasm and treat him with respect. He recently started a volunteer position at the Stonehill College Athletic Department and he is a proud ambassador of the House of Possibilities.”

“HOPe is unique in many ways,” Amie continued. “It cares for a broad spectrum of teens and adults with special needs and it is a resource for many families who would have few other avenues for support and guidance.”

Paula Kavolius, the Founder/President of HOPe, emphasizes that the organization’s programs are not self-sustaining and that HOPe needs support to enable it to carry out its mission and continue to build its community of hope. She will be co-chairing Endless Possibilities, HOPe’s Annual Gala, to be held on Thursday, June 23, at 6:00 pm at Gillette Stadium.

Hosted by Fox 25 Morning News anchor Gene Lavanchy, the Gala will include a cocktail reception, dinner, and silent and live auctions. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Ronan Tynan, world-renowned Irish tenor, physician, recording artist and paralympian.

Tickets are $150 per person; proceeds will go towards HOPe’s programming to foster the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of each person who comes through its doors.

For more information on House of Possibilities, go to www.houseofpossibilities.org.

For Gala information, contact Karen Santo at 508-205-0555 or k.santo@houseofpossibilities.org.