Special Tree Rehabilitation System is bringing a River Rouge school library back to life for leap day and hopes to encourage others to make a difference on Feb. 29th

ROMULUS, Mich., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Children at Ann Visger Preparatory Academy in River Rouge, MI, will have something to celebrate Feb. 29, leap day.

That's when the doors to the school's renovated media center, which has been closed for more than a decade, will be opened.

The renovation is a leap day gift from Special Tree Rehabilitation System of Romulus, which specializes in brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation.  Visger, the school district's only elementary school, will receive new furniture, hundreds of books, a student reading center, and interior design elements.

It's part of Special Tree's LeapDay229.org initiative which CEO Joe Richert created after finding an old note he had written to himself about putting the extra day that happens once very four years to good use.  People can post their leap day plans to make a difference on the website.

"LeapDay 229.org fits in with Special Tree's long-standing commitment to give back to the community, so we're using our resources to make that happen in a much bigger way," he said. "We're asking everyone to participate and to help spread the word."

Special Tree began the media center renovation in early January and there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on leap day.  "The school embraced Special Tree from the start and has been an important part of the project team," Richert said. "I'm impressed with the leadership at Ann Visger and how they've used their limited resources to do what they can to improve the school."

Ann Visger Principal Joseph Emery said the renovation is a sign of the school district's rebirth.  "We are truly blessed to be associated with Special Tree," he said. 

Many of Special Tree's clients, who are in recovery from a brain injury, are helping with the renovation through its vocational rehabilitation programs.  Clients are refinishing bookshelves, making colorful ceramic tiles for a mural, and have sorted and entered thousands of books into a database for the media center.

"We're very proud of our clients," Richert said.  "Recovering from a brain injury is hard work, yet our clients are finding energy to give back."

"Everyone in the community is so excited about the project that community leaders are now talking about turning leap day into an official day of community service," he said. "That's the heart of what LeapDay229.org is about, showing people you care and making things happen for them in meaningful ways."

Special Tree Rehabilitation System
734-893-1000 | www.specialtree.com  

SOURCE Special Tree Rehabilitation System

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http://leapday229.org