Boise, Idaho— This past month, Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) celebrated 25 years of service to the Idaho community. Established in 1997 by Alan and Wendy Pesky, LPLC honors the life of their son, Lee, who unexpectedly passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 30. As a child, Lee struggled with learning disabilities, not unlike the one in five people today. Despite the common nature of learning and attention challenges, the Peskys were met with limited services and support at the time.
Reflecting on this gap, Alan and Wendy sought to create a space where students, like Lee, could transform obstacles into opportunities. Twenty-five years later, LPLC has trained over 10,000 educators, supplied over $1.6MM in financial aid, served 98% of Idaho counties, and provided support for over 100,000 students. Clearly, this milestone is cause for celebration.
On May 21, 2022, over 130 supporters gathered at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) in downtown Boise to pay tribute to the profound work of LPLC over the last quarter of a century. The event featured keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Faggella-Luby, director of the Alice Neely Special Education Research & Service (ANSERS) Institute at Texas Christian University. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to hear from special guest speaker Nathan Katsuki, an alumnus of LPLC.
As Katsuki shared, “The time that I spent at the Lee Pesky Learning Center helped me overcome my early challenges learning to read and sound out words.” Katsuki, now an actor and model residing in New York City, puts into practice the self-regulated framework that LPLC hopes to instill in each student that walks through its doors—to become resilient, self-aware, strategic, self-determined, and connected.
Ultimately, the evening garnered laughter, applause, and donations, with 25 corporate and community sponsors contributing over $150,000 in support. While Lee Pesky Learning Center has already had an immense impact, this funding will ensure a continuity in services for countless learners like Lee. Hopefully, this 25th Anniversary is one of many milestone celebrations for the center’s transformative work.
Pictured above: LPLC’s Executive Director Dr. Lindy Crawford addresses event attendees.