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Annual Report

Who We Are:

Philips Academy provides a Real Learning For Real Life education to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), equipping them with the skills and tools to become confident, self-determined adults.

Philips Academy Leadership

• Deborah Hofland, Executive Director

• Joseph Steven, Program Director

• Cathy Breeden, Curriculum Director

• Susie Crain, Development Director

• Amy Firth, Admissions Director

• Ainsley Jennings, Marketing & Communications Director

Board of Directors

Core Values:

Community, Responsibility, Empowerment, Development

2024-2025 Financial Report

Income

• Ed Imbrogno, Board Chair

• Melodie Ohaus, Board Treasurer

• Frasier Ives, Board Secretary

• Jane Blount, School Co-Founder

• Phil Blount, School Co-Founder

• Becky Berolatti

• Doug Bradley

• Kristin Downey

• Nicki Applefield Engel

• Raleigh Anne Gray

• Josh Reichard, CPA

• Dale Sarjeant

• Steve Scruggs, CFA

• Matthew W. Smith

School Supporters

Thank you to all of our supporters, community partners, and donors, whose time, effort, and financial contributions help make a Real Learning For Real Life education possible.

What’s New

In our 20th year, Philips Academy has achieved record growth. This school year, we have:

Total Students

+10 from 2024-25

Middle/High School: 69 Bridges: 16 }

Total Classrooms

+1 from 2024-25

Total Staff

+4 from 2024-25

Teaching Staff: 15

Administrative Staff: 8 Support Staff: 7 }

New Staff

Staff Updates

We are excited to welcome several new staff members this school year, as well as some familiar faces in new roles.

New Roles

• Ashton Holbrook, Special Education Teacher

• Marcie Kee, Administrative Services Manager

• Paige Ross, Transition Coordinator

• Casey Turner, Bridges Program Coordinator

Leslie Mackinson, Reading Specialist

Caroline Al-Khalil, Social Work Intern

Kim Romberg, Admissions Assistant & Vocational Support

Jennifer Ben-Hail, Occupational Therapy Consultant

Olivia Mason, Special Education Teacher

Mary Grace Greco, Special Education Teacher

Melanie Monzo, Special Education Teacher

(Left) Casey Turner is in a new role as the Bridges Program Coordinator and Instructor.

What’s New

Increased Alumni Engagement Efforts

In the spring, we launched new alumni engagement efforts. Our goal is to better support our PA and Bridges alumni families by providing more opportunities and resources for continued connection and growth. We hosted over 20 total alumni for social gatherings in May and July, and we look forward to connecting with more alumni throughout the school year.

We had a chance to catch up with some of our alumni at the May Alumni Social.

Expanded Vocational Lab

We recently relocated and expanded our Vocational Lab, the hub of our on-campus job training program. Here, students can explore different career possibilities, including retail, grocery stores, offices, food service, and more. Through simulations and hands-on practice, they develop practical job skills such as folding clothes, stocking shelves, operating a cash register, performing data entry, and creating floral arrangements—while also building essential soft skills like communication and teamwork.

The revamped Vocational Lab is more accessible and accommodating to our growing student population. It’s now more functional and customizable, allowing us to adapt to an evolving curriculum and introduce new skill areas in the future.

“It’s so important to have a space where students can discover what they enjoy and what they’re good at,” shared Transition Coordinator Paige Ross. “In the Vocational Lab, students can really dive in and try many different skills and individually identify what they like to do and their strengths and weaknesses.”

Like Ms. Ross, we are excited about how this space can facilitate the development and empowerment of each student as they prepare for purposeful adulthood.

20 Years of Partnership

In 2005, Jane and Phil Blount founded Philips Academy with the belief that children, like their son Philip, can reach their potential with a specialized education. Through a life-centered program of academics, job training, and independent living skills, Philips Academy prepares teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for purposeful adulthood.

Thanks to a generous community of partners and supporters, what started as a single classroom and a few students has grown into a student body of 85. As we celebrate 20 years of Real Learning For Real Life, we also celebrate those who helped make Philips Academy possible.

When Jane and Phil Blount decided to tackle the ambitious task of founding a school, they sought advice, counsel, and assistance from friends and neighbors, including Benton Bragg and his father, Frank, of Bragg Financial.

Thinking back to their first meeting with the Blounts, Benton recalled with a laugh, “At first, we tried to talk them out of it. We thought that there must have been a simpler way. They were determined to find the best possible option for Philip. Once they said they were going to do it, they pulled us in.”

Since that meeting, Benton and Bragg Financial have been “all in” on Philips Academy. The financial advisory firm has become a staple in the school community, with employees serving on the Board of Directors, providing financial support, and acting as enthusiastic cheerleaders. If there’s a PA event, you can usually find a Bragg representative there.

“We first approached them with our idea because they were always very involved in the community— very philanthropic,” recalled Jane. “We knew that

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Partnership Timeline

2005-2012: President & CEO Benton Bragg served on Philips Academy Board, including as Board Chair from 2005-2010

2005-2015: Chief Compliance Officer Dawn Cannon donated in-kind accounting services

2014-Current: Bragg Financial has been a sponsor of the Paving The Way fundraiser every year since its inception, including as Presenting Sponsor from 2018-2021

2020: Bragg Financial helped launch the Philips Academy Scholarship Endowment

2021-2024: Former Portfolio Manager Brian Bonewitz served on Philips Academy Board

2024-Current: Portfolio Manager Steve Scruggs serves on Philips Academy Board

2025: Bragg Financial is a presenting sponsor for the Homecoming student fundraiser

Bragg Financial at 2023 Paving The Way

From the Classroom to the Community

Philips Academy sets up students for success through on- and off-campus learning

A key component of a Philips Academy education is our specialized, hands-on approach to learning, which integrates essential life skills into every lesson. Our curriculum is designed to provide the tools our students need to navigate the world through instruction both in the classroom and out in the community.

Every graduate must complete 275 school-based training hours to develop key skills on campus, and 300 hours of community-based work to apply those skills in real-world scenarios. Our goal is to ensure that every student who comes to Philips Academy discovers their path to purposeful adulthood, whether it’s gaining and retaining employment,

volunteering for a cause they are passionate about, or living as independently as possible.

Through a diverse offering of on-site and real-world lessons and job training, students can explore a variety of options to find what best suits their skills and interests.

In the 2024-2025 school year, students logged:

2,675+ hours

of on-site vocational training including:

Student-Based Enterprises Vocational Lab Campus cleaning and maintenance and more!

School Mobile Library

Last school year, Ms. Viola’s homeroom introduced the PA Mobile Library. The students were responsible for organizing the school library, stocking the book cart, and managing the checkout process. Each month, they visited classrooms with a book cart stocked with a variety of genres, allowing their classmates to browse, borrow, and swap, encouraging a love for reading among their peers.

4,970+ hours

of off-site vocational training including:

Samaritans Feet Crisis Assistance Ministries Board of Elections

Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and more!

My Farm Camps

Several students visited My Farm Camps for a hands-on lesson in farm management. They learned how to tackle various tasks associated with caring for the farm animals, including grooming horses, maintaining the chicken coop, and feeding goats. Each visit allowed the students to experience and enjoy life on a farm while managing a list of responsibilities.

Eddie’s Place, Bus trip to Chick-fil-a, Harris Teeter, Freedom Park, and more! class trips offering opportunities for real-world learning including:

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall

Ms. Wendelberger‘s homeroom took a trip to Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, where they were tasked with finding and purchasing a holiday gift for their parents while staying within a set budget. The students were encouraged to explore the facility and learn about the various vendors and products available. This outing provided an excellent opportunity for them to practice navigating the shopping center and shopping responsibly within their budget.

Experiences with Community Partners including:

Coffee service at Elevation Securities, Office tour of Amwins, Guest speakers from Grattan Pest Solutions, and more!

Arthur Elliott

As part of their VoTech study of graphic design, students toured the offices of the creative agency Arthur Elliott, a 2024 Homecoming sponsor. During the visit, they got a behindthe-scenes look at different roles within the agency, including photography, graphic design, branding, and office management. Throughout the year, we also provided coffee service at Arthur Elliott’s networking events, offering an excellent opportunity for our students to meet new people and learn about what they do.

Thanks to your support,

more students have access to Philips Academy’s specialized education, focused on academics, job training, and independent living skills. Every generous donation enables us to provide students with valuable on-campus and off-campus learning opportunities.

Impactful Outcomes

An alumni parent shared that, “In his time at Philips Academy, my son was methodically taught all the small steps that go into becoming an employable adult. The workdays, internships, and field trips to various work environments allowed him to learn new skills and try a variety of jobs. And when he was offered a job opportunity, he was set up for success and prepared!”

Our Real Learning For Real Life focus ensures that students are prepared for the next steps in their journey, whatever they may be. After Philips Academy and Bridges, students can take a variety of paths towards purposeful adulthood, including employment, additional education, or volunteering.

In 2025, 7 students graduated from the high school, and 3 moved on from the Bridges program.

Of our high school graduates:

• 85% received an NC Occupational Course of Study diploma

• 57% enrolled in Bridges

Of all of our transitioning students:

• 30% pursued post-secondary education

• 40% began a job/internship

• 10% moved to a supportive living community

We are incredibly proud of all that our students have achieved so far, and can’t wait to see what they do next.

we could count on them for direction and support,” added Phil. “And now, they’ve been with us every step of the way”.

Benton served as the school’s first board chair for five of his seven years on the board. Other employees would also go on to serve on the board, including current member Portfolio Manager Steve Scruggs. Bragg Chief Compliance Officer Dawn Cannon agreed to donate accounting services to the school as it established itself, a commitment that continued for 10 years.

“The whole family and the whole organization have always been behind us. We would not be where we are today without Bragg Financial,” said Jane.

Reflecting on the lasting partnership, Benton observed that the opportunities and community the school offers will draw in anyone. “Everything about Philips Academy is irresistible. You want to contribute. You want to help. When you visit the school, you immediately see the day-to-day impact of your involvement and financial contributions. You know you are making a difference not only for the students but also for their families.”

With the support of dedicated partners like Bragg, Philips Academy has made a difference for 20 years. By offering a specialized educational experience, teens and young adults can pursue independence and become contributing members of the community, providing hope for the future to every family that enters its doors.

Jane credits Bragg Financial for recognizing that the school’s impact extends beyond the campus community. “Their investment reflects their understanding of the value, necessity, and resources that Philips Academy provides to the greater Charlotte area.”

Partner with Us

Over the last two decades, Philips Academy has grown and evolved more than Jane, Phil, and Benton ever imagined when they first launched the school.

“The school has grown and prospered in a very organic way. The school has responded to the needs of the people that it serves, and people have responded to Philips Academy,” said Jane.

Benton adds, “It’s amazing. And I know there’s more to come. There is such a tremendous demand for this kind of education and to be part of this wonderful school.”

There are numerous ways to partner with Philips Academy. Not only can you donate financial resources, but you can also share your time and talents.

Contact Executive Director Deborah Hofland at DHofland@PhilipsAcademyNC.org or (704) 365-4533 to learn more about getting involved. Support Us