Meet the families from the 2008 Visions of Choice Campaign... To view their complete stories, please click here for a downloadable copy of the 2008 Visions of Choice testimonial book.

{Ryan and Kyle}	The Wiesenberg Family Ryan and Kyle  attend Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in West Grove, PA.  Ryan is in 7th grade and he plays basketball and football for his school.  He is thinking of becoming a Software Engineer when he grows up.  His brother, Kyle, is in 3rd grade.  He loves to sing and while he doesn't know what he wants to be when he gets older, his favorite subjects are spelling, reading and science.    Their parents chose to send the boys to this school because they were impressed with their parish, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  "As parents, it is very comforting to know that our children are in a loving, caring, prayerful environment, when we leave for work for the day," says mom, Suzanne.
{Scott Bui}	The Bui Family Scott Bui attends Holy Innocents A.C.E.S. in Philadelphia. He is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. "At public schools they don’t teach some of the things that Catholic schools teach, for example – religion. My religion classes are teaching me to respect and help others. My parents think that Catholic schools are the answer for me as I grow.   When I grow up, I want to help people.  I think being a doctor would be best for me. But, I also want to be a businessman and help people buy affordable products. I’d also like to be a professional football player. Going to Holy Innocents makes me realize that I can do anything I want – even be a doctor, a businessman and a football player!"
{ashley}	The LaTorre Family Ashley is 12 years-old and attends Holy Innocents A.C.E.S. in Philadelphia.  Holy Innocents receives EITC undesignated money from BLOCS, which is a fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Philadephia. "My name is Ashley and I am 12 years-old.  I am undecided on what I want to be when I grow up but, there are a few careers that I am looking at. I do know that I want to help people. Maybe I’ll be a therapist or travel to other countries like Oprah to help people. "   She is extremely grateful for the opportunities she's been given because of BLOCS and the ability to choose the school that is best for her.
{cochran}	The Cochran Family Brianna was born with Brachial Plexi, which affects the nervous system and left her with 25% use of her right arm. This placed her at a disadvantage with other children. When Brianna was in second grade, school administrators noticed that she could not read and was having behavioral problems. After years of her struggling in school, failing classes and requests to have her tested repeatedly denied, Brianna's family turned to  Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO). They knew just how to help!   Brianna presently attends Philadelphia Academy Charter High School.  Since attending Philadelphia Academy, Brianna has been on the honor roll every semester and her reading level has increased three grade levels.  Brianna has a positive attitude toward school and is looking forward to graduating from high school and attending a trade or community college.
{Little}	The Little Family The Little family - Steve, Sheona, Tyrece, Tiara and Tamel - has been truly blessed. Steve is a math teacher in the Harrisburg School District. Sheona, a housewife and full-time mother, is finishing her bachelor’s degree. One thing they always wanted for their children was a school that best fit their children’s educational needs. This task seemed very hard at first; Steve and Sheona didn’t have the income or resources to do this.   After many attempts with various daycare centers and schools, the Little Family finally found a school that had everything they were looking for. A few years ago, they enrolled Tyrece and Tiara into Emmanuel Baptist Christian Academy. Tamal followed a few years later. Everyone really fell in love with this school and they are very grateful that an EITC scholarship was presented to us. Without this help, Tyrece, Tiara and Tamel would not be able to attend this school – the school that is best for them.   This scholarship has made it possible for these children to continue to attend Emmanuel Baptist Christian Academy. Without this scholarship, the Little's would have no option and their children would be forced to attend a public school.
{abbi ditonno}	The DiTonno Family The product of two working parents, Abbi had been enrolled in daycare since she was an infant.  Though she hated going to daycare, we had no choice but to enroll her 3 days a week.  When the time came for kindergarten, we did some research on our local school district and were not impressed.    We immediately fell in love with the Harrisburg Academy.  It had everything we wanted - a large class and a half day program which meant Abbi would still need some form of daycare.   She is currently in third grade at the Academy and doing great! Along with a challenging curriculum, we discovered the added benefit of attending a school that has a very diverse student body, an experience she would not have had in public school.  The feeling we get knowing that we have Abbi in a school of our choice is comforting when we think about her future.
{Joey and Joanna}	The Iglesias Family Earlier this year, we registered our 5-year-old, Joanna, a future fashion designer, and 6-year-old, Joey, a future eye doctor, into Pre-K and Kindergarten, respectively. Joanna started Pre-K on a monthly payment plan at the Abington Christian Academy in Clarks Green, PA, our school of choice. With great hardship, Joey had to start Kindergarten at our “free” local public school which only offered a two and a half hour program. In October, our prayer was answered and we learned that Joey had been awarded a financial aid scholarship to attend Abington Christian Academy, through Faith First Educational Assistance. Joey and Joanna are succeeding at this school. We are so grateful for the opportunities to send our children to the school of our choice.
{The Fuller Family}	The Fuller Family  If one word could best describe the education that we have provided for our children that would have to be choice. Our little three student academy has been built on choice. Our story starts when our eldest son, Manny, was 2 years old. I knew that he was far ahead and needed special opportunities for an education that would fit his abilities; the conventional school would not be a good fit for such a child. I feared that he would become the unpaid tutor. Since that time, we haven’t looked back and have homeschooled each of our children. The other two don’t share the abilities of their brother but homeschooling gave them the opportunity to grow in their God-given abilities. As the children and their needs have grown, we moved them into a cyber school education. It is a program where they can pursue interests and not be confined by the structured classroom. Manny once explained why school choice is so important, “All in all I would have to say that taking the time to look into alternative education methods is something that could pay off for a lifetime. Schools are not buildings, playgrounds or even their own bricks and mortar; they are people, the students, staff and faculty. After all education wouldn’t be education if it boiled down to institutions instead of the people in them, would it?”
{Katie Sprague}	The Sprague Family I have been attending PA Cyber for 3 years. Before that, I attended a Christian school for 3 and a half years and was homeschooled for 3 and a half years after that. I am in the 9th grade. Sometimes I have a hard time concentrating and PA Cyber has given me amazing academic and personal support. With their help, I am doing great; I am succeeding. PA Cyber has opened doors for me that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Home-based, virtual classes are amazing. I talk directly with my teachers and classmates. I am forming friendships and go to school-based clubs and field trips. I get to concentrate and take the time necessary to learn without distraction. I can have fun with my classmates in and out of school. When I’m not in school, I love to work with animals- right now I am helping train a service dog puppy. It’s fun and it is great helping people. PA Cyber has given me an open door to accomplish everything I dream about. There is nothing I can’t do. Thanks, PA Cyber.