The Calais School in Whippany has made such a difference in the life of Anthony R., a senior in the upper school, since he first came to the school in the ninth grade that his parents decided that they wanted to do something to give back. The result: a fabulous Christmas light and sound show outside their Parsippany home.

Mom Stacey D. said she and her husband had spoken about doing this for a while. “My husband really likes to do big-time displays.” After months and months of planning, Mr. R. began decorating and preparing the display with Stacey D. back in August. They approached the project in stages, putting up icicle lights in August, window, and door lights in September etc., until it was ready for kickoff November 26 at their home at 3 Northfield Road in Parsippany. The display features colorful changing lights, inflatable holiday yard decorations which correspond to holiday music including “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses.

The family also put up a laminated letter about The Calais Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to empower children with serious learning disabilities and socialization challenges to reach their fullest potential in life, with a donation box seeking to support the Calais Foundation and the school’s 50th Anniversary fundraiser. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.

After hearing about the display, News12 New Jersey was so impressed that they featured it on their news broadcast December 11, as well as on their website. To watch the segment: click here.

“Anthony has come such a long way,” since he began attending the Calais School, Stacey D. said. “It has made a world of difference for him.”

He has become a better person “going out of his way for everyone,” his mom said, adding “Anthony is polite and conscientious and a straight “A” student. He is a completely different kid.”

In January, the family will begin planning next year’s holiday display, which they anticipate will be even bigger and better than this year’s show. It will also again include a donation box for The Calais Foundation so the family can give back and hopefully help other families with special needs children.

The Calais Foundation supports the Calais School, a state approved private special education school in north jersey, serving students in grades K through 12 Plus with multiple learning disabilities as well as anxiety, mood behavior, and autism spectrum disorders.

This content was originally published on The Calais Foundation website here.