Mayor Will See Meaningful Impact of “Project Gabby”
On December 12th at 10 a.m., Mayor Pugh will visit the Baer School to see the impact one volunteer can make in the lives of disabled children. “Project Gabby,” named for its initiator, Bryn Mawr School senior Gabrielle Auchincloss, is bringing innovative, assistive technology to a classroom of Baer students. This technology will help non-verbal students communicate, giving students a voice.
Auchincloss initiated the project by donating a school service award she won. “It was not difficult to demonstrate the passion and dedication necessary,” to win the grant, Auchincloss says. “All I had to do was think of those children at the Baer School and how much they needed the grant money that came with the award.”
With this grant, the school and Auchincloss formed a team and came up with a plan to buy iPads and assistive accessories for the kids in Ms. Barbara Howard’s class, where Auchincloss volunteers.
Auchincloss then leveraged this gift and launched a GoFundMe campaign, Gab4Baer, that has raised over $10,000. Through negotiations with Apple, Baer, and Baltimore City Public Schools, “Team Gabby” has resulted in creating school-system-wide initiatives and an Assistive Technology pilot program for the entire system.
“The first time I visited the Baer School, I was in middle school,” Auchincloss remembers. “These children were so kind and caring and needed so much. I couldn’t forget them. I knew I wanted to go back.” Auchincloss says: “I have learned more from this experience than from any other. If you truly commit to something you can make a meaningful impact in others’ lives.
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