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community community
Our Community Cares words Catherine Frederick with Jeanne Hill, Director of Marketing & Fundraising
DS: How did Bost come to be?
The Bost School for Exceptional Children was created when parents of disabled children knew that their children could do MORE than what was expected of them. With the appropriate education and training they could lead full, independent lives. They approached Dr. Roger Bost, local pediatrician, who was of a like mind and created the school. DS: Who does Bost serve and in what ways?
Bost serves individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities with services customizable to the individual, depending on their personal goals and levels of independence. With Bost, there are opportunities for growth, learning, and greater independence throughout the individual’s life.
Bost was founded in 1959 by local pediatrician, Dr. Roger B. Bost.
DS: What are some of the new initiatives Bost has instituted to enrich the lives of those served?
Bost is like many other businesses who have pivoted, struggled, and looked for opportunities for innovation and growth, despite the uncertainties of a global pandemic.
We are a nonprofit organization
We continued to provide our services and support and have added things to enrich
providing services and support in
the lives of those we serve, such as ACTS, a therapeutic drama program, through a
Arkansas to nearly 1,000 individuals
partnership with the Arkansas College of Health Education and now we are excited
with intellectual and developmental
to bring dance through a partnership with the Western Arkansas Ballet! We are also
disabilities. By working together
growing our facilities to better meet the needs of our communities. We opened
with our community partners, we
new apartments in Rogers and are looking to use the same model in the future. The
can improve the overall health of the
“group living” dynamic allows those we serve to have greater independence in their
individual, promoting a higher level of
apartments by having staff assigned to the facility rather than to the person. Our
independence. Do South® reached out to Jeanne Hill, Director of Marketing & Fundraising, to learn more.
Dardanelle location is getting a new state-of-the-art facility to better serve adults and children that choose Bost for their day services. We look forward to the opportunities for growth and innovation that the new facility will allow. DS: How can our community support Bost and those served by Bost?
Community support is shown to us in many ways. Think of Bost when you have an 5812 Remington Circle Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.478.5600 bost.org
open position in your business that might be a good fit for one of our adults who have been training to work in the community. Think about BOST if you have a friend that is looking for employment. Think of Bost if you have some children’s books or gently used clothing you no longer need. Think of Bost when someone asks about the good things in our community or if you see an individual with disabilities in need of help. DS: Are there immediate needs or events our readers should know about?
The 20th Annual Grape Escapes, A Vine Affair will be held at the Wyndham Fort Smith Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy nonprofit in our area free of charge.
(formerly the Doubletree by Hilton) on March 4, from 6 to 9pm. We are excited to be back in the room for our cocktail style, signature fundraiser providing guests with the
We will accept requests for this free page
opportunity to sample wines from around the world and enjoy hors d’oeuvres from local
beginning in October, 2022. Send questions
restaurants and caterers. We will have live music, a lively auction, along with a fun photo
to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
opportunity! Tickets can be purchased at grapeescapes.org or by calling 479.478.5600. All funds raised will be used LOCALLY to fund critical services and supports for individuals with disabilities served by Bost. Those we serve still need us, and we still need YOU!
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