I have had the opportunity to work with the Shadow Project for the last four years. I appreciate their vision, passion, and support they have given to me and my students. The "I Can" mantra is infectious. It has made a difference when faced with curriculum that seemed challenging. The opposite word of "I Can" is not allowed in our classroom and what a difference it has made. Thank you Shadow Project for caring and supporting students with special needs!!!!
Let me just say, The Shadow Project is AMAZING!!!!
I have been working with this nonprofit for over 6 years and I don't know where I would be without it. My students are highly motivated by the goal writing options and the incentives behind the Shadow Project.
This has helped my students and I to set goals and achieve them. The Project has helped many of my students with academic, behavioral and attendance struggles to venture outside of their comfort level and "try". Helping to turn their "I Can't" into "I Can".
The Shadow Project is an amazing opportunity that has been provided to my school and district and I hope that other Special Education programs will have opportunities to be a part of this nonprofit.
I've been working with The Shadow Project for over 5 years. I've seen tremendous growth amongst the students that have taken full advantage of all it has to offer. Some of the huge successes are: turning a complete non-reader into a recreational reader, encouraging kids to attend school, helping families-in-need 'purchase' presents for one another, teaching math skills through an economy-based system of behavioral accountability, motivating students to become more independent, helping to reassure kids to make it through tough academic periods, and, this year, granting kids more explicit knowledge and autonomy over self-correcting their negative behavior.
As a volunteer and a donor, I am impressed with how each dollar is spent in helping children with learning disabilities. The amount of children that benefit from this program is impressive, but more could be reached with increased funding. It's an amazing organization that is spearheaded by a dedicated and ambitious leader, Christy Scattarella.
The Shadow Project has done an amazing job of understanding the needs of special education students and their school environment. With this understanding it has created a program that fits with the current school structure and inspires students with disabilities like ADD and dyslexia. The Shadow project is a catalyst that helps further the outcome of success in school and life for these children.
The Shadow Project is amazing! I have known Christy since our boys were in kindergarten and they are now 25! Both of our boys struggled in school. Christy started the Shadow Project because she wanted to help other children that were struggling in school. Christy's passion for her work is why this nonprofit has grown over the years and has helped so many children... And, thanks to Christy, it will continue to grow and continue to help many children long into the future!
How often doing you really know your dollars are going to the source, and that the organization is making a difference. As a donor I want to be assured that my money is well spent. The thank you card I received from one of the children in the Shadow Project program touched my heart and alleviated any doubt about the effectiveness of the program. The child who was featured on the card said because of the Shadow Project they could read and for the first time did not feel dumb. To change the way a child sees itself is as much of a gift as learning to read. Christy and her organization have my respect, praise and admiration.
The Shadow Project is very dear to my heart, as my sister created it after her son Alex experienced learning disabilities. They found little help in the public school system so proceeded to create a non profit that could provide tools for those students in need. All the hard work has paid off as now so many children have benefited from these efforts. I have seen first hand the changes in my nephew and have avidly followed the shadow project's remarkable efforts through the years. This feisty non profit started with one mother and grew until it had it's own board and many, many fine volunteers and donors over the years.
I worked with The Shadow Project on a probono project to help with their digital marketing strategy and I fell in love with the organization. Now, I'm serving on the board and working with The Shadow Project team behind the scenes. It is amazing to watch the impact this nonprofit has on the Portland community, giving teachers the tools to help children with learning challenges get excited about learning!
The Harvard Business School Association of Oregon (HBSAO) measured the social return on investment of The Shadow Project back in 2011. Its findings revealed that for every dollar invested in the program, there is greater than a tenfold return to society. This was the greatest return ever measured by HBSAO. The program encourages children with learning disabilities to set goals, builds self-esteem, and teaches deferred gratification through goal setting exercises. It changes how kids view themselves and changes how they view school. The program is also replicable and consistent with the State's educational goals. It's great to see this small nonprofit started from a mother's effort to encourage her son's learning take off like it has.
The real impact on our learning challenged children is remarkable and measureable. The Shadow Project program is now expanding to additional school districts in east Multnomah County that serve more lower income families. With more expansion and growth more children will be served. They will find hope, confidence, and success in school and life. The outcome is living lives with more independence and personal success, not failure.