Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/68908
style of generosity A portion of proceeds from this limited- edition Hermès scarf will benefit Berkshire Hills Music Academy. help make a school a home A HERMÈS CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEARNING IMPAIRED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BERKSHIRE HILLS MUSIC ACADEMY. by Kay bernon ll parents who have a child with a disabil- ity fear what will happen to their son or daughter after they themselves are gone. home music room Peter, Kay and Charles "CB" Bernon in their You do everything you can to help the child find a path that suits him. For our family, that path has been music. My 28-year-old son, Charles, has Williams syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how he interacts with others. In 1994 my husband, Peter, and I enrolled Charles in a music camp in Lenox for students with Williams syndrome and were amazed at how the experience made him light up. Music acts as a bridge for those who can't articulate feelings. It was exciting to find my child responding so strongly to something. That was the impetus for me to start Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, where music acts as an educational tool and a voice for students with disabilities. I reached out to many friends, 88 bostoncommon-magazine.com family, and acquaintances I knew from serving on the board of overseers for the Children's Hospital League. Our first fundraiser in 1999 garnered $1 million, which helped us purchase the 40-acre Skinner Estate from Mount Holyoke college. It became obvious that the Boston community wanted to support this venture. Hermès has long been a supporter of the acad- emy, and this year the French fashion house is the main sponsor for our August 10th fashion show on Nantucket, which is our summer gala and most important fundraiser. Hermès' relationship with Berkshire Hills began five years ago when we had a cocktail party at the Boston boutique with our students performing. The company also pur- chased a table for its clients at another of our events. We are fortunate that this year Hermès has created a special limited-edition silk scarf, which will be sold at our Nantucket fashion show photography by eric Levin (bernons); geoffrey stein (scarf)