Celebrating 125 Years of Making a Difference!
Bancroft is marking its 125th anniversary in 2008.
We kicked off the year-long celebration in October at Bancroft Day and the Butterfly Ball, with many more special events and opportunities planned throughout 2008 to mark this momentous occasion. Festivities planned for 2008 include a star-studded concert, expert-speaker series, historic golf outing, and much more.
Here’s a quick summary of events and how you can join in the fun.
Clarence York lecture series, March and November. Nationally recognized experts will share the newest findings on the treatment and care of people with disabilities. The two-part series will be held in the Haddonfield area.
Bacon Brothers Anniversary Concert, Friday April 4. Renowned actor and musician Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael will perform two shows of their original eclectic-rock compositions at a top Philadelphia venue – the Zellerbach Theatre at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center. The Bacon Brothers have supported Bancroft for several years. Lend your support for their great music and their cause! Tickets will go on sale this spring.
25th Annual Golf Tournament, Monday June 2. It’s the silver anniversary of this popular event, so expect lots of special touches. For instance, golfers will get to play a hole the way they did 100 years ago – with wooden clubs, antique balls, and caddies in period attire. The event returns to Tavistock Country Club – a top area course that has just been redesigned. Proceeds will benefit a new Bancroft initiative called Project Accessibility, described below. For more information or to register, call (856) 429-5637, ext. 485.
Project Accessibility, mid-June to July 4. Join Bancroft as it kicks off its own version of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Volunteers will remodel a Bancroft group home in Cherry Hill, making it completely handicapped-accessible as well as beautiful. The renovations will take place over a two-week period, culminating on July 4 – a new kind of Independence Day for the home’s residents, four women with brain injuries. To volunteer time, materials or money, call (856) 429-5637, ext. 485, or e-mail hbacon@bnh.org.
Bancroft Day 2008, October 18th. Bancroft’s annual festival brings together families, staff and community members for a day of fun. While plans are still underway for this extra-special Bancroft Day, the event typically includes children’s games, music, food, craft sales and more.
Butterfly Ball 2008, November 8th. The organization’s annual black-tie affair will wrap up the year-long anniversary celebration at the Union League in Philadelphia with style. Watch for updates and other details in our newsletter or on our website.
A piece of history
Founded in 1883, Bancroft was one of the first private schools for children with developmental disabilities. Today, the nonprofit organization helps people of all ages reach their full potential for independent, fulfilling and productive lives.
It all started with one remarkable woman – a Philadelphia teacher named Margaret Bancroft. At the time, children with developmental disabilities weren’t usually given the benefits of an education. But Margaret realized that such children have the ability to learn and succeed if given individualized attention, patience and love. She decided to devote her life to this purpose.
Margaret started her school with one pupil in a rented house just a few blocks from the current Haddonfield campus. As word of her success spread, her school grew and acquired another Haddonfield property, as well as a summer site in Maine.
After Margaret died in 1912, she was succeeded by a series of skilled leaders, each of whom served Bancroft for decades. Dr. Ernest Farrington, sisters Jenzia and Miriam Cooley, Dr. Clarence York, Dr. George Niemann, Joseph Hess, and Dr. Robert Martin all made lasting contributions to the organization.
Over the years, the organization became a leader in helping people live as independently as possible, through jobs, homes and leisure activities in the local community.
Currently, Bancroft is again helmed by an accomplished woman. President Toni Pergolin helped stabilized the organization’s economic condition over the past two years, after severe financial challenges threatened its very existence.
As Bancroft approaches its 125th year, the organization’s future is bright. Combining rich tradition with an advanced vision, Bancroft continues to lead the way in its field – helping people with disabilities learn, grow and flourish.
Margaret Bancroft
Margaret Bancroft was truly a remarkable woman. Born June 28, 1854, the younger daughter of Harvey and Rebecca Bancroft, Margaret found herself, at the age of 18, the major support of herself and her family. Margaret attended the Philadelphia Normal School, and immediately upon graduation began her career as a teacher in Philadelphia. Her zeal and imagination attracted the attention of members of the school board, particularly school board chairman Dr. W.W. Keen, a Philadelphia surgeon of national repute.
Margaret Bancroft was remarkably intelligent, observant and articulate. She read extensively and appears to have been well grounded in the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of her time. As a practical educator, she was imaginative and systematic, laying the groundwork for practices that continue in the basic program structure of education today. She emphasized careful attention to the individual child, designing a program for each one, while grouping them in situations where emulation and mutual interaction were desirable.
She was fiercely devoted to the children. Her relentless pursuit of her goals highlighted facets of her character, which made her a somewhat less than endearing personality at times. While she was domineering and brooked no argument or compromise, she stressed love and beauty in her programs.
Margaret was active in Haddonfield community affairs and, at one time, was President of the National Education Association. She wrote extensively on the subject of children with mental retardation and, through her articles and lectures to organizations such as the American Academy of Medicine, she became widely known for her forward-thinking views. She championed the cause of children with developmental disabilities and fought for their right to adequate care and education virtually until her death, in 1912, at the age of 57. Her legacy lives on through the multifaceted private organization known today as Bancroft NeuroHealth.
Click here to view a timeline of Bancroft’ history.
Click here to read an excerpt from the book, “Margaret Bancroft, Teacher with a Dream.” This very special book was written by Sister Krista Mote, a member of the Bancroft Education Program staff, who became interested in learning more about Bancroft’s founder when she saw some photographs taken of Margaret with her students. Over a five year period, Sister Krista researched Margaret’s personal life and professional activities through a variety of resources, including the organization’s archives, the Pedagogical Library in Philadelphia, and even the attic of the home of one of Margaret Bancroft’s nieces. To purchase a copy of the hardbound first edition book, please send $20, plus $3.00 shipping and handling to the Corporate Communications Department of Bancroft at 425 Kings Highway East, P. O. Box 20, Haddonfield, NJ 08033-0018.
Click here to read a personal recollection of Margaret Bancroft, by Mrs. W.L. (Polly) Culbertson of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
