KATI MAC EDUCATION FOUNDATION

GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY WAS ALWAYS A PART OF OUR LIVES. HOWEVER, THE HOW AND WHY TO GIVE BACK EXPANDED WHEN AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY WAS PRESENTED TO US. FOR YEARS WE DREAMED ABOUT RUNNING A RETAIL BUSINESS IN THE BOROUGH OF WEST CHESTER WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS COULD WORK. WE HOPED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENCE, PURPOSE, AND MEANINGFUL WORK TO THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, HOWEVER, WE NEVER EXPECTED SO MANY PEOPLEESPECIALLY BRIDESTO EMBRACE OUR VISION OF A CAUSE-BASED BUSINESS SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. ALL PARENTS ENVISION THE FUTURE OF THEIR KIDS, BUT FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE CAN BRING MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. AN ANSWER TO ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS BECAME CLEAR WHEN WE LEARNED OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A WELL-ESTABLISHED FLOWER SHOP WITH A FANTASTIC TENURED STAFF. IT SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE: A TURNKEY SHOP WITH A GREAT REPUTATION AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH BRIDES, WEDDING PLANNE