Photo – Sheryl Kline (left) of Orange, a lifelong advocate for children, and co-founder Rocky Carroscia, of Twinsburg, com¬pleted their fourth year of Play2Learn Connection, a non-profit organization that provides free services to toddlers with a wide variety of developmental delays. Through structured play, the women, both in their retirement, teach children to transition to preschool and to learn socialization skills. Here, they enjoy playtime with Dean Petrone.
By SUE PINKERTON
Orange resident Sheryl Kline has used her energy and passion for special education in an active nonprofit, wrapping up her fourth year recently of serving children birth to three years old – and thanking those who have supported her along the way.
Ms. Kline described with joy and enthusiasm her work alongside co-founder Rocky Carroscia of Play2Learn Connection, a nonprofit that provides peer interaction and play-based activities for children who have a diagnosis or delay in cognitive development, communication, social-emotional and sensory development and fine motor or gross motor skills.
The organization, which is housed in the Kirtland Library and has served roughly 200 children in transitioning to preschool, has been supported since its inception by the Jerome T. and Georgeanne S. Osborne Charitable Trust. The substantial grant funding they receive each year keeps Play2Learn Connection going.
“They are direct, hands-on support for children who need developmental support,” Sunny Masters, grant administrator of the trust, said of Play2Learn.
Neither Ms. Kline, with more than 50 years in special education, nor Ms. Carroscia, a retired early intervention specialist, take pay for their work, Ms. Masters noted, instead doing the work that needs to be done.
“That says a lot,” Ms. Masters said, “their motivation means a lot to the Osbornes.”
The family, which has shared funding amounting to about $1 million annually through their trust over the past four years, has had a great deal of interest in education, Ms. Masters explained.
They receive about 75 applications for support annually, she added, primarily from Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties, with the children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Osborne via the trust supporting programming in all areas of education and for all ages.
Play2Learn has received about $50,000 overall.
“We are happy to help these organizations that need support, and Play2Learn is one of them,” Ms. Masters said. “We hope they keep going strong.”
In addition to that support, Ms. Kline rec¬ognized the Kirtland Library, which provides free accommodation for their programming amidst their own struggles in the area of funding, similar to other libraries throughout the county system.
With the library, they have built a true partnership, Ms. Carroscia, a resident of Twinsburg, explained.
“It’s been awesome,” she said, describing librarians setting out books based on Play2Learn’s particular theme of the day, when children and parents venture into the library from the Community Room.
“Talk about partnerships,” she said.
Play2Learn also receives support through donations, including from the families they serve and even the grandparents. During the 10-week sessions, not only are the children learning through the programming through structured play, but the parents are also receivng vital support through the connection they make with one another.
“What we see in these playgroups are two little kids hugging,” Ms. Kline said, or parents sharing phone numbers with other parents.
“It’s this connection,” she said. “Kids learn to interact with each other – our mission. Kids can play and not have a meltdown – our mission. Or parents talking – our mission.”
“The thing that ignites Rocky and I the most is seeing our mission in the progress of the kids.”
Both Ms. Kline and Ms. Carroscia tackle this important work in their retirement.
“We always said when we retired, we would provide a playground for two to three year old children with special needs,” Ms. Kline said. That is because there is very little out there in this area.
“Libraries have wonderful storytimes, but often times for our children, it’s not a good fit for them,” Ms. Carroscia said. “We saw a need.”
Play2Learn, which has a minimal budget so as to support via a stipend Occupational and Speech specialists, receives referrals from Crossroads, Early Intervention Services in Lake County, but will not say no to any child. They offer their program for free.
“Everything we do is focused on child development,” Ms. Carroscia said, with sessions of eight children allowing for more one-one-one support.
For she and Ms. Kline, the rewards overall of their involvement are vast.
“It’s just so much joy and laughter,” Ms. Kline said of what this organization brings to her life. “We love watching the children grow.”
“We do laugh a lot,” Ms. Carroscia added. “We chose a team that has heart, and we do this humbly.”
Throughout their careers, which included years at the Broadmoor School in Mentor, as well as other agencies, they have worked with “powerful, bright, caring women,” Ms. Kline said.
“Through Play2Learn, we continue that connection.”