Sarasota Builder Donates Playground For Autistic Students At Pinnacle Academy

Sarasota area students attending a school for autistic and behaviorally challenged children have new recreation choices thanks in part to a Sarasota construction company.Holland Construction donated its time and labor to construct two basketball courts and a tether ball court to the Pinnacle Academy. Funding for the equipment was raised through the academy's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)."It's the first sports-related area for them," says Joe Holland, president of the construction company. "We went in and excavated the area, poured the concrete pads and installed the equipment. It took a few weeks to complete. From the time we began to the time we finished it took about a week or two. It was an honor to be a part of the project."The kids need this kind of play environment and to get some additional stimulation through sports and exercise," continues Holland. "Some children respond really easily to those types of activities. I know my son does."Holland's 4-year-old son attends the school, and Holland is a staunch supporter of Pinnacle and its mission. He serves on the board of the Center for Autism Resources and Education (CARE), which provides families who are facing autism or a related disability in the Sarasota/Manatee, Florida, area with resources, support and education. "The Pinnacle Academy has been a great resource," he explains. "We relocated down here from the Baltimore area specifically for our son to attend there. They have a very unique approach to the development of the children. Most institutions take a narrow approach, but the Pinnacle Academy takes a wider one and truly understands that each child has unique needs in terms of education and therapy. My child has responded tremendously since he started there."Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Joe Holland, Holland Construction