Since
Jack created
Wednesdays
Child in
1981 he
and his
wife Marci
have raised
millions
of dollars
to help
special
needs adoption
and to support
group homes
who are
taking care
of these
children.
Last year
again the
Jack and
Marci Williams
Endowment
for Wednesdays
Child gave
grants of
$350,000
to group
homes and
special
needs agencies
in New England.
Mark
Petersen was
named as new
board member
of Jack and
Marci Williams
Endowment
for Wednesdays
Child!
Mark was unanimously
approved as
a new board
member at
the annual
board meeting
of charity,
held August
6th, 2024.
The board
also allocated
another $255,000
in grants
for organizations
helping find
homes for
children with
special needs.
Recipients
include the
Williams Center
at St. Ann's
Home in Methuen,
Walker School
and Home in
Needham, Spaulding
home in New
Hampshire,
Italian Home
in Jamaica
Plain, Mass
Adoption Resource
Exchange in
Boston, Dianne
DeVanna Center
in Braintree,
CASA Worcester,
CASA Boston
and Bamsi
of Brockton.
Wednesdays
Child was
created by
Jack Williams
of WBZ-TV
in 1981. The
Endowment
was formally
created in
2000.
Over the years,
the endowment
has given
over $10-million
in grants
to help special
needs children
40
YEARS AGO,
A GREAT
IDEA WAS
BORN
Jump
to Part
2: History
of Wednesdays
Child
Jump
to Part
3: Welcome
to the real-world
Jack
Jump
to Part
4: The
awakening
In 1981,
Marci and
I wanted
to do something
to help
special
needs children.
I had been
surprised
to discover
how many
thousands
of children
were in
state care;
given up
by their
families
or taken
away because
of abuse
and neglect.
Most had
been placed
with foster
families
or were
living in
large group
homes.
Most remained
with no
permanent
families
until they
were released
on their
own at age
18.
I proposed
we place
these children
on WBZ-TV
during a
weekly segment
on our 6:00
news.
At first,
the idea
was opposed
by most
social workers,
fearful
that that
these children
would be
used in
a rating
game with
no direct
accountability.
I said I
would personally
be responsible
by doing
the segments,
including
the taping,
writing
and editing.
If there
was a perceived
problem,
they could
talk to
me directly.
I categorically
refused,
however,
to decide
which child
would appear
on TV that
week, nor
was I to
be connected
what-so-ever
to who would
be selected
as the best
parents
for that
child or
children.
An agreement
was reached:
I would
be responsible
for the
TV side
and would
do the tapings
and editing
and writing
on my own
time (coming
in early).
Social workers
would be
able to
do their
demanding
jobs with
no interference
from me.
Since the
segment
would appear
every Wednesday
on the 6:00
news, we
would call
it Wednesdays
Child.
Up next:
the experiment
begins and
a big surprise.
Part
2 - History
of Wednesdays
Child
In the
late summer
of 1981,
we started
on our journey
to try to
find adoptive
homes for
all the
thousands
of special
needs kids
in state
care in
Massachusetts.
No one,
not even
me, knew
how it would
turn out.
Continue
reading
full story
Part
3 - Welcome
to the real-world
Jack
The first
several
tapings
were fun,
and I must
admit, quite
easy. Not
so tough,
I thought.
Everything
changed
two months
later when
I met Timmy.
I was told
by his social
worker to
meet me
at an office
building,
third floor
in downtown
Boston on
Boylston
Street.
When I arrived
with my
cameraman
at the appointed
hour, I
was met
by the social
worker,
standing
in a hallway
with her
hands clasped
behind her,
holding
on to the
doorknob.
Well,
she said,
I
want you
to keep
an open
mind because
Timmy is
a little
different.
I thought
how bad
could it
be with
a little
seven-year-old?
As soon
as I opened
the door,
I heard
a combination
scream and
moan and
then the
thump of
a little
head slamming
against
the wall.
Continue
reading
full story
Part
4 - The
awakening
More on
Timmy:
I was disappointed
with my
efforts,
thinking
the edited
piece was
less than
compelling
to potential
adoptive
parents.
All I had
was a little
boy hunched
over a microphone
babbling
incoherently.
I did add
the voice
of the social
worker explaining
Tims
requirements.
In my opinion,
at the time,
the Wednesdays
Child segment
was not
very compelling.
After we
ran the
piece, I
called Massachusetts
Adoption
Resource
Exchange
to see if
anyone had
called.
There had
been a few
who social
workers
could check
out. Later
I found
out that
one of the
calls had
been a match.
The couple
eventually
adopted
Tim. After
about one
year I asked
the social
worker if
I could
visit the
adoptive
home and
see who
these people
were and
how Tim
was doing.
Continue
reading
full story
SPAULDING
ADADEMY
TURNS 150
The facility
is located
in Northfield,
NH and has
been a recipient
of grants
from the
Jack and
Marci Williams
Endowment
for Wednesdays
Child.
Marci and
I have toured
the facility
and we are
big fans.
They recently
opened Wednesday
House, for
children
who are
temporarily
without
shelter.
For more
information,
go to SpauldingServices.org.
Remembering
the beginnings
of
Wednesday's
Child
Wyman Cannon
In
1981 Wyman
Cannon was
one of the
first children
to find
a loving
home through
Jack
Williams
Wednesday's
Child.
He sent
this letter
to Jack
to say Thank
You. Letter
from Wyman
We
look
at
the
world
once,
in
childhood.
The
rest
is
memory.
Louise
Gluck
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Jack
and Marci
have retired
but still
send over
$325,000
a year to
group homes
in New England.
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Jack
Williams
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Marci
Williams
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2020
grant checks
from Wednesdays
Child have
been sent.
Once again
the Jack
and Marci
Williams
Endowment
for Wednesdays
Child has
kept with
its pledge
to continue
to support
special
needs adoption
in New England.
Recipients
include
the Williams
Center at
St. Anns
Home, St.
Anns
Home, Walker
School and
Home, The
Italian
Home, Spaulding
Home in
New Hampshire,
Massachusetts
Adoption
Resource
Exchange,
CASA of
Boston,
CASA of
Worcester,
The Diane
DeVanna
Center,
and Bamsi
of Brockton.
Over the
years, Marci
and Jack
have raised
millions
of dollars
for the
charity,
much of
it coming
from the
yearly ski
race at
Waterville
Valley,
New Hampshire,
which continued
for 30 years
and received
tremendous
support
from Wendys
and Volvo.
Individuals
still give
donations,
including
for the
In
Memory
featured
on this
website.
Covid 19
has had
a significant
impact on
group homes
and has
added challenges
in keeping
these children
healthy.
But we believe
better times
are ahead
and this
too shall
pass.
IL CAPRICCIO
RESTAURANT
CLOSES
Critics
rated this
gem one
of the tops
restaurants
in Boston
for years.
Located
on MainStreet
in Waltham,
it was miles
away from
the bustling
nightlife
of Boston
and the
waterfront.
But, diners
from throughout
Eastern
Massachusetts
flocked
to its doors
for the
Northern
Italian
menu and
unique wines
(many from
Italy).
Rich Barron
had a masters
touch with
the cuisine.
Initially
he had teamed
up with
Jeannie
Rogers (a
sommelier
who travelled
regularly
to the vineyards
of Northern
Italy and
became friends
with the
winemakers).
But the
real reason
behind my
sorrow over
the loss
of a great
restaurant
is the quiet
support
for Wednesdays
Child, a
support
which raised
millions
of dollars
over the
years for
special
needs adoption.
Jeannie
and Richie
approached
Marci and
me after
one of our
regular
visits for
dining and
said they
wanted to
do something
to help
these children.
We decided
on a yearly
dinner with
the food
and wine
provided
at cost.
(read
full story)
Longtime
friend and
former Volunteer
of the Year
for Wednesdays
Child
Meteorologist
Barry Burbank
-- is retiring
after 42
years at
WBZ-TV.
Over the
years Barry
raised tens
of thousands
of dollars
for Wednesdays
Child by
donating
all of his
speaking
fees and
contributions
from his
school lectures.
To read
the full
story please
visit CBS
Boston.
REMEMBERING
THOSE YOU
LOVE
For years,
supporters
of Wednesday's
Child and
special
needs adoption
have urged
their relatives
and friends
to give
a contribution
to Wednesday's
Child in
lieu of
sending
flowers.
Contributions
can be sent
to Wednesday's
Child, PO
Box 136,
Weston,
MA 02493.
Names of
the loved
one who
passed and
the donors
appear on
this website.
In
memory of
Francine
Small of
Plymouth
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Donations
in her
name
given
by:
Marcia
Pendleton
and
Lloyd
Harte
Gretchen
and
Ed Ecclestone
of Norwell
Elizabeth
Lamphier
of Marshfield
Hills
Caldwell
Clax,
Janice
and
Nancy
Sally
and
Jim
Stewart
Daryl
and
Tim
Karr
and
Eric
Barb
Gail
and
Paul
Johnson
Claudia
Hackett
of Arlington
Texas
Scott
and
Karen
Shoup
of Sewickley,
PA.
Full
donors
list
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