This article was written by Kirstin Kennedy of the Beaver County Times, used with permission.
HOPWEWLL TWP. — Denna and Brad Hiltz adopted their daughter, Danica, from Poland in September 2013.
Everything was new for the Hopewell Township family. They decided to seek early-intervention services for Danica through Lifesteps in Brighton Township, a nonprofit agency that helps those of any age with special needs.
The family was a guest speaker Thursday evening at the United Way of Beaver County Recognition Reception at the Club at Shadow Lakes in Hopewell. Lifesteps Inc. receives support through the United Way.
Denna Hiltz said Danica, now 6, immediately began receiving vision services, as well as speech, physical and occupational therapy, through Lifesteps. She also participated in preschool classes, which include children of all ability levels.
“We could not have done this without the Lifesteps family,” Hiltz said.
Danica has learned to write her name, identify colors and write letters.
“They (the teachers at Lifesteps) never looked at her as an obstacle,” Hiltz said. “She became part of their family.”
After three years with Lifesteps, Danica is graduating out of the program with many friends and a desire to learn. Hiltz’s testimony at the event served as an example of how money raised by the United Way benefits the Beaver County community.
Other agency sites of the United Way include the Beaver County Association for the Blind, the Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association, the Beaver County Rehabilitation Center, the Beaver County YMCA, the B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Boy Scouts Camp Baker, Catholic Charities of Beaver, Girls Hope Baden, Homemakers-Home Health Aide Service, Mental Health Association, Old Economy Village, Providence Care Center, the Women’s Center of Beaver County and Villa St. Joseph.
The United Way exceeded its campaign goal of $725,000 this year, coming in at $785,109. Recognition awards were given to the Beaver County YMCA, Spanos Group of Raymond James, United Steel Workers District 10, the Community College of Beaver County, Nova Chemicals, Team Fisher, Beaver County Chamber of Commerce President Jack Manning and Edward Wolford of Matthews International.
