Erie News Now | WICU & WSEE in Erie, PAAnonymous Donation Impacts Lives at Barber Center

Anonymous Donation Impacts Lives at Barber Center

The "Wheels in Motion" adult group meets every day at the Barber Center to exercise their creativity.

Now, they have a new way to express themselves, and it's all because of one donor who isn't taking credit.

The anonymous donation of 10 iPads to the program means the men in the group can reach a new potential.

"It has enabled one of the individuals in the room to be a game player instead of an observer, so now he can participate," said Patty Czulewicz, an instructor for Adult Day Services at the center.

The same can be said for everyone in the group using the iPads. They're actively engaged in a variety of activities, no longer passive observers to the world around them.

"It is really making a difference because there's so many different applications... there's a lot of them that can't do certain functions but yet they can see it visually and they can communicate," said Gary Bukowski, the center's Vice President for Advancement. He said the iPads are helping the men to "have different experiences that they never could."

Donations of any kind are greatly appreciated by the Barber Center, especially as the state continues to cut funding for the services they provide.

"I'm a firm believer in private philanthropy in the human services world," Bukowski said. "It plays such an important role because we can now do things that we could never do through state money."

For the men, the donation has given them something greater than money can buy.

According to Czulewicz, "one gentleman said it's freedom."

If you would like to donate to the Barber Center, click here.