Honoring

From the Desk of the Chair/Founder:

Welcome to the Ely Chapman Education Foundation (ECEF), a wonderful safe haven for youth of the Mid-Ohio Valley from ages 3 to 16.  ECEF is a place where students of all ages are encouraged to expand their horizons, to learn in the best way possible, using hands-on activities whenever possible.

This foundation was started under the principle that every child can learn, given an encouraging and caring atmosphere. ECEF engages special needs individuals in a way that all children can learn from the other. We know the names of all the children and daily greet them as they come into the program. We can sense if a child has had a good day and give plenty of “High 5’s” to students. For those for whom the day has been rough,  we encourage them by telling them that we know that they will make better choices tomorrow, and that once they walk into the building, it is a new beginning.

We expect all students to be respectful and are respectful to them, listening to their stories, giving hugs (many hugs- never enough hugs), but allowing those who do not want the hug to just wave or give a handshake. We want children to be comfortable and to feel that this place is a safe haven because we know that they will learn better, be more respectful – to themselves and others, and become more responsible. It is my hope that all students who leave ECEF become stewards of their environment- both at home, at work and in the community.

– Alice Chapman