Teaching and caring for special needs students was a passion and labor of love for our daughter Kata Arnerich. Even during her battle with brain cancer, Kata hopped online three days a week to be with the students she loved. Being sick from chemo was never a deterrent – she felt a profound responsibility to consistently show up for these children. Kata understood that connection and mentorship is critically important to engage these special children in the learning process.

Kata sadly left us on December 22, 2021, losing her 18 month fight with brain cancer.

It is important to us to find ways to honor the work that Kata so very much wanted to continue in her life and support pathways for this student population to receive the very best we have to offer as a community.

Serendipity Center is a shining example of a program that does just that. Kata often spoke about the need for an integrated service model for Special Ed students that holistically addressed their needs including: adaptive learning strategies, integration of mental health, nutrition and wellness activities into the school day and building life skills for a successful transition. Serendipity Center does this and a great deal more.

Read more here about this amazing school in Portland: https://www.serendipitycenter.org/.

Finding Serendipity Center felt a bit like kismet and our hearts know, without a doubt, that funding this school/program will honor Kata in all the ways most important to her and allow Kata a way to continue the work that her illness cut short.

Please consider a generous donation to the Kata Arnerich Memorial Fund for Serendipity Center in her memory.

Our deepest gratitude,
The Arnerich Family