KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s been nearly five months since a lone gunman targeted victims at two South Overland Park Jewish centers.
Three people died in those attacks on April 13th. A new scholarship aims to keep the memory of one of those victims alive.
Terri LaManno had two passions in life — her family and helping visually impaired children.
Before LaManno was killed in the April shooting outside the Village Shalom Retirement Community, she worked as an occupational therapist at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired. The center carries on its work, helping prepare as many as 200 visually impaired children for a sighted world.
On Thursday, Lamanno’s husband, Jim, announced plans for a new scholarship, meant to cover costs for occupational therapy for two children each year.
Jim LaManno says after his wife’s death, he began receiving gifts, and he wanted to put that money to good use.
“My wife loved this place,” LaManno said. “She was never going to leave this place. These kids were important to her. My goal is to keep it going in her honor.”
Nicola Heskett is the center’s executive director, and understands how expensive therapy can be.
“To be able to tell these families that their child’s occupational therapy is going to be covered for the next year is very emotional for them,” Heskett said. “It’s impactful for them.”
Four-year-old Saamiyah el-Schari is one of the children receiving the first set of scholarships, and her teacher, Sarah Smith, worked alongside Terri helping children like these adapt and learn.
“I like having fun,” el-Schari said, when asked how much she enjoyed the school.
“The satisfaction comes from their smile,” Smith said. “You can tell that they know they did something well and something that was difficult for them. They survived and their proud of themselves.”
Each child will receive up to $4,500 per year. Although Jim LaManno footed the bill for the first round of scholarships, he hopes to see others get involved, and keep Terri’s work alive.
Seventy-three-year-old Frazier Glenn Miller has been charged with killing Terri LaManno and two others. He remains behind bars at the Johnson County, Kan. Correctional Center.
Court records show Miller’s preliminary hearing is set for November 12th.
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