Attendees of Summit Academy Community School – Painesville’s Community Fair are in for a treat, says Dean of Students Kelly Cunningham, M. Ed.
“We are excited to have Jungle Terry with his wild animals, drills by the Burning River Buckets professional basketball team, and music and dancing with Wyld Wyld West Entertainment, and that’s just for starters,” says Sensei Cunningham, who also teaches therapeutic martial arts at the school.
The free event takes place Friday, May 20, from 5-9 p.m. at the school, 268 North State St. in Painesville. If the weather permits, many of the participating organizations and businesses will present their booths outdoors, according to Cunningham. In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be held throughout the school buildings.
The school is hosting the event for the second year in a row, as a free public service, in
partnership with several area merchants and organizations.
“Think of it like a church festival. It’s an exhibition of businesses and kid-friendly services in our area,” explains Cunningham, adding that the event also seeks to heighten public awareness of the school. “Summit Academy School-Painesville is an extraordinary atmosphere for students in grades K-8 with autism and ADHD. We want families to discover our school as a structured safe haven for alternative learners, one that fosters belonging and social acceptance for every child.”
Among the event’s many attractions, Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), a non-profit motorcycle organization aimed to empower abused children, will give free temporary tattoos, motorcycle tire bracelets and stickers to event goers. Tattoos range from motorcycles and hearts to dreamcatchers and BACA fists.
“We’re a group of bikers who have come together with the common mission in mind, and we strive to do what we can to empower these children, and to stand tall against child abuse,” explains “Bootstrap,” Vice President of Awareness and Public Relations for the Erie Shores Ohio Chapter. “We’re extremely interested in doing awareness in our local communities, and what better way to do so than by setting up a fun awareness booth at the Summit Academy Community event. This will allow us to interact with parents and children alike, spread our mission and put a smile on children’s faces. It’s everything that we look for in an awareness event.”
In addition, Chesterland Nurseries will offer flower planting, Kona Ice will give free snow cones to the first 100 guests and all attendees will receive a free bag of popcorn. Plus, Vikings of Vulksgaard will present Viking Age reenactments.
The fair’s growing list of exhibitors includes:
Burning River Buckets
Bikers Against Child Abuse
Busy Bees Pottery
Counseling by Bonnie
Crossroads Health
Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Forbes House
Help Me Grow
How Money Works
Jazbec Zoo Creations
Lake Erie College School of Education
Lake County Free Clinic
Lake County General Health District
Lake County YMCA
Lake Geauga Head Start
LakeTran
Morely Library
Painesville Fire Department with Ladder Truck
Painesville Police Department with SWAT Vehicle
Painesville Treatment Centers
Primerica
Salty salt cave
Studio K Photography
Usborne Books
Vikings of Vulksgaard
Willoughby Fine Arts
In addition, Painesville Community School’s Parents Teachers Students Together association will host a silent auction as part of the event. Items up for bids include a Karate Institute gift certificate for six weeks of classes and a uniform ($69 value); four one-day admission passes to the Lake Metroparks Farmpark ($32 value); four tickets to a Lake County Captains baseball game ($48 value); a pair of season tickets for Burning River Buckets basketball ($156 value); Two certificates for the Salt Cave at Salty ($70 value each) and others. Fair attendees can place bids at the event. In addition, a link to a virtual version of the auction will be made beginning May 13.
Cunningham describes the school’s strong partnerships with many of the event participants, including Lake Erie College. She says school administrators are working with the college’s Dean of Education on developing possible summer programs, tutoring and teacher mentorships.
“We are extremely fortunate to be part of this community, where organizations and citizens work together to truly serve the greater good,” Cunningham says.
For more information about the community fair, contact Kelly Cunningham at the school, at 440-358-0877 or Kelly.cunningham@summitacademies.org.