On April 6, Ford Credit CEO Don Winkler visited the Academy, whose students are diagnosed with learning differences and attention deficit disorder, to bring them his personal message: "You may be having a rough time and misery is part of how you're feeling now... remember there is hope."

Winkler, once sitting in the same seat as the students, selected the Academy because he relates with the students. "Knowing that I can make a difference in any child's life by sharing my experiences and insights is both uplifting and rewarding." Dressed in a dark gray business suit, he removed his coat, paused and explained the importance of "up 'til now." "When someone says it can't be done, add the phrase 'up 'til now.' This will encourage you to think of future possibilities and not dwell on the limitations of the past," he said.

"Winkler is a great role model and sets an example for these students to see that they can overcome any obstacle and be successful even with the challenges they are faced with." Mary Van der Tuin, headmistress of Eaton Academy.

Donald A. Winkler, Chairman & CEO, Ford Motor Credit Company

Then, Winkler donned a red clown nose and really loosened up his young audience. He encouraged them to feel good about themselves and to approach the future with hope and confidence. Winkler, who was not diagnosed as a child, had to simply adapt on his own while confronting the confusion he found each day in every classroom. "I don't think I would have made it through school if it weren't for the support of my family and friends."

The Academy's purpose is to alleviate that pain and struggle. "This is not a school of choice. It's a school of need," said Van der Tuin. The Academy educates and helps students understand individual learning styles and practice strategies that will prepare them for a healthy, responsible life in school, with their families and in their communities. Once the students learn to manage their learning differences, they go back to their local, traditional school. The average stay for a student is two to three years.

That short stay, in these children's education, is a literal, bona fide "up 'til now."