2024 IMPACT REPORT

From our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

This past year has been a testament to the power of healing and community for the families we serve. Throughout our 2024 Impact Report, you will read how a growing number of Christian Scientists with developmental special needs, who can often feel isolated, are connecting with one another through our programs. Why are we growing? We believe it’s because these dear ones and their families are hungry to join together in a community where they can overcome society’s limitations and labels.

You’ll read about three young Christian Scientists who are joyfully defying expectations— gaining employment skills, learning to communicate, and performing for the first time. You’ll learn how our collaboration with other Christian Science organizations is expanding. And don’t miss the inspiring talk by Chestnut Booth, CS—our gift to you.

Our donors get it! We are deeply grateful to the growing number of supporters who collectively gave $620,000 last year (a record for us). The following stories highlight the progress our donors helped fund in 2024.

Julie Finnin Day

Julie with her daughter, Sabine, and participant, Austin, at CherishAbility’s Adaptive Family Camp

Cherishing Progress …

At CherishAbility, we believe that every step of progress is evidence of an underlying spiritual fact: that each of God’s children possesses limitless spiritual abilities, regardless of society’s limitations and labels. Read about three participants who are joyfully defying expectations by winning employment and promotions; learning to read, write, and speak; and joyfully performing onstage for the first time.

… through employment

After Peter aged out of high school transition services, he was at a loss for meaningful activity and social engagement. Where other 18-year-olds were going off to college or finding jobs, Peter’s path forward was unclear. And then he joined CherishAbility’s Vocational Training Program, which opened the doors to meaningful employment. Today, he is working as a cashier at a local grocery store.

Peter working as a cashier

Read Peter’s full story

… through learning to communicate beautifully

Austin washing dishes during the Vocational Training Program

Austin spent his childhood learning to read, write, and speak. Now Austin is reading the Bible Lesson every day, preparing for a life of supported independence, and nurturing the friendships he’s made through our Vocational Training Program, Peer Connect, and Loved One Gatherings. Talking to Austin today, you would never know he had a challenge speaking. “Now, it’s hard to keep him quiet!” says his father, Bruce as Austin laughs in agreement.

Read Austin’s full story

… performing for the first time

Jenna performing at the talent show

Jenna heard that several of her CherishAbility friends would be attending Adaptive Family Camp and she was excited to go, too. So she and her mother Lee Ann attended for the first time last fall. During the talent show, Jenna surprised everyone, beginning with her mother.

Read Jenna’s full story

Watch this inspirational talk with Chestnut Booth, CS

Topic: “Count It All Joy”

Chestnut’s talk expands on Paul’s words from James 1:2 and explores why we can take pleasure even in challenges. Why? The simple answer is: Christian Science works. It heals. This inspirational talk was developed for CherishAbility and given at the 2024 Adaptive Family Camp. Chestnut is a Journal-listed Christian Science practitioner.

Cherishing our growing community

2023 ~ 2024

The total number of new participants increased

75%

Number of Vocational Program trainees grew

43%

Number of families participating rose

20%

Working Together

Our Newest Partner: Camps Newfound and Owatonna

We’re excited to share one of our newest partners. In 2024, we expanded our Vocational Training Program with a new site at Camps Newfound and Owatonna in Harrison, Maine. Our job coach and trainee prepared food in the kitchen, honed work skills, studied the Bible Lesson daily, and more. The trainee worked diligently and thrived, contributing to the camp community in a meaningful way and serving where there was a need. We are so grateful to the camp staff for providing our trainee with a supportive environment in which to develop valuable job skills. We look forward to working with them again next year!