PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Hillcrest Educational Centers in Pittsfield, a member of the Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps), relies on generous contributions from private citizens in order to provide gifts during the holidays for its 150 students ages 6 to 22. The non-profit is looking to meet its $1,250 fundraising goal in order for staff to fulfill the remaining wishes for its students.  

During the campus holiday celebrations, each student is provided with one gift to open and then on Christmas morning they open the rest of their gifts. Each student receives six gifts.  

To mail a financial contribution, send to: Holiday Wish Program, Hillcrest Educational Centers, 788 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. As a guide, $150 sponsors one child's wish list, $25 will buy one gift, $10 will fill a child's stocking.  

Hillcrest was started as an organization that provided residential programs for students with complex psychiatric, behavioral and/or developmental disorders, including autism, and a variety of high risk behaviors. While the agency still provides these residential services, today Hillcrest also offers nonresidential day programs and services for emotionally/behaviorally disturbed students at their Housatonic Academy, general family dentistry at Hillcrest Dental Care and outpatient mental health services for children, adolescents and adults through Hillcrest Community Support Services.  

Hillcrest Educational Centers is a maaps member school. maaps is a non-profit association whose member schools provide educational programs and services to students with special needs throughout Massachusetts. The schools operate over 150 day and residential programs and schools, providing education and treatment to approximately 5,500 Massachusetts students with disabilities. They also bring in more than $148 million into the Commonwealth’s economy in tuition payments from about 1,500 out-of-state students, and employ over 9,000 teachers, clinicians, residential care and other staff. For many of the students, maaps schools represent their first real opportunity for hope, achievement and to become productive members of society.  

About Hillcrest Educational Centers

A top Berkshire County employer Hillcrest Educational Centers is a private not-for-profit organization, providing therapeutic treatment and special education to children and adolescents with unique psychological and learning needs, in Berkshire County, Massachusetts and the Northeast. Campuses include a day student academy and three residential schools. They are also a resource for a broad range of psychological services, counseling and evaluations for individuals, families and schools in Berkshire County through Hillcrest Community Support Services. Hillcrest also operates Hillcrest Dental Care, Inc., a complete general family dentistry practice. Hillcrest Dental Care is the largest provider in Western Massachusetts of oral healthcare services to MassHealth recipients and special needs patients. In 2010, Hillcrest formalized an affiliation with Berkshire County Kids’ Place and Violence Prevention Center, Inc., a fully accredited Children’s Advocacy Center for child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. Visit our Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn pages under Hillcrest Educational Centers.

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Media Contact:
Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.
Katrina Cardillo
Director of Communications
413-499-7924 ext. 114
kcardillo@hillcrestec.org  

Holiday Wish Program:
Sheila Mason
Director of Development
413-499-7924 ext. 133
smason@hillcrestec.org