Grant's House to hold 'I'm Happy and I'm Alive' celebration for youth

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Grant's House, home of Wabash Center’s Youth Services, will hold its 7th Annual "I'm Happy and I'm Alive" celebration in support of the children and young adults with special needs who are part of the Grant's House family.

According to its website, Grant’s House is "designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities or special needs, helping them and their families navigate life’s transitions, connect to valuable resources and learn skills that will help them achieve their dreams."

Grant's House – located at 1500 Salem Street in Lafayette – was founded in 2016 in honor of Grant House, son of co-founder Tamara House, after Grant died in late 2015. Grant was born with a brain tumor, and after multiple surgeries, he had some challenges with his motor skills.

"Grant’s House honors the life and legacy of Grant House, a remarkable young man who despite his own disabilities lived life on his own terms and in service to others," the website says, "inspiring a community to share his vision of a place where children with special needs could flourish."

Programs within Grant's House serve as a safe place for children and young adults with special needs and disabilities to learn everyday life skills, make friendships and encourage others.

"(The facility) is close to (being) a 50,000-square-foot building," Tamara said. "And kids come after school and then we have what's called Emerging Adults (program). When (participants) graduate high school and don't know what potentially their next step or place can be, that's when they transition over to Grant's House for Emerging Adults."

Tamara spoke about Apartment 54, a simulated apartment within Grant's House's facility where Emerging Adult program participants can learn more on how to cook, make their bed, fold and put away clothes, along with other everyday tasks.

"We have a garage where kids are learning how to do and how to get a job," Tamara said, "with tasks, like, they're folding towels for one of the hospitals or filling salt and pepper shakers for the restaurant. They're learning job skills. We also have music therapy in there... Each room is focused on different sensory needs for the kids."

From 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, the 7th Annual "I'm Happy and I'm Alive" celebration will take place. Funds raised at the event will go to providing Grant's House participants the chance to take part in Camp #54, an all day summer camp.

"Families have an opportunity to bring their kids five days a week in the Summer time, all day, or mix and match that, and if they do come five days a week to day camp, they can do that (up to) the full three months of the Summer time. And the awesome part to that is, they are literally getting field trip experiences throughout our community.

"...That's what we are looking to do with this event. We need the community's help for (sponsoring) the children's experience for camp 54. Some kiddos and some families cannot afford to send their children to camp... so those kids need to be sponsored and need help."

Should guests not be able to attend Friday night's event, donors can contribute to the $185,000 goal online.

"If you can't attend, you can go to wabashcenter.com and you can register for the silent auction items and/or a way to donate directly to help the kids. And it gives you opportunities to sponsor them for the month, for a field trip or just to make a donation for $5 to $5,000. Whatever you are compelled to give and whatever your heart wants to give."

In addition to the silent auction, other activities at Friday night's event will include all-you-can-eat catering from Dan's Fish Fry, a beer garden from Bedrock Liquors, a concert from "party band" The Flying Toasters and a live auction.

Jason McManus, president and CEO of Wabash Center, commented on the importance of Grant's House.

"Grant's House is a community treasure," McManus said, "It was designed specifically for children and young adults with disabilities or special needs as a place where they can develop the skills they will need to achieve independence and find the support that they deserve to pursue their dreams. I am personally looking forward to the opportunity to enjoin the community, who has been so generous to our cause, in helping make our Summer program available to all children and young adults who want to participate, regardless of their ability to pay."

Tamara reflected on a particular story from Grant's House that has stood out to her over the years.

"Especially with the pandemic for example, a lot of parents (are) trying to flex and trying to figure out how they're going to juggle going into work and taking care of their child," Tamara said, "and/or other children (but also) their child with special needs....

"One mom, I remember when she came in, she said 'I have homeschooled my daughter just because it's been better and easier for her than being (in) mainstream in a class. Now that we have Grant's House after school, it is a wonderful break in her day and my day. And a resource that she cannot wait (for), and keeps asking for throughout her day 'When am I going over to Grant's house.' That's what it's all about, to create the excitement for the child and to also be a wonderful advocate and resource for the parent."

To learn more about the program's offered through Grant's House, visit www.wabashcenter.com/youth-services.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Grant's House to hold 'I'm Happy and I'm Alive' celebration for youth