Arizona teacher receives $9,600 for child’s cerebral palsy treatment
May 12, 2015, 5:04 AM | Updated: 5:04 am
PHOENIX — One generous family made sure an Arizona educator had a Teacher Appreciation Week he would never forget.
Andrew Burkhart, a teacher at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, works three jobs to support his wife, Kellie, and the couple’s young son, also named Andrew. The 8-year-old boy has cerebral palsy.
“The treatments that are healing his body in huge ways are considered alternative by the insurance industry, so they don’t pay for anything,” Kellie said.
The Burkharts were fundraising to pay for Andrew’s treatments last week, but were still $9,569 short of their goal. Kellie said she was doing everything she could to raise the money, but still had a long way to go.
On Thursday, a student gave the elder Andrew an envelope and told him it was a gift for Teacher Appreciation Week. Inside was a check for $9,569 and a handwritten note wishing the family well.
While she declined to release the donor’s name, Kellie said she thanked the person via Facebook.
In a blog post, Kellie said further donations would go towards Andrew’s treatments.
KTAR’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.
