By Chloe Miles

Each Sunday during the fall and spring, I venture from my home in Short Pump to Collegiate’s West Gym. I anxiously await the arrival of one of my closest friends. I attempt to distract myself with other activities, such as four square or speaking to classmates, but I keep a stern eye on the walkway—between the West Gym and the wall of the old Lower School cafeteria—that serves as an entrance for the buddies of the John Maloney Project. 

My buddy, Eli Barnum, can only be described as a ray of sunshine. When he arrives at the gym, he greets me with a smile and a warm hug. Since fall 2021, we have done the same activities every Sunday: walk around the track at least eight times, take the shortcut through the bleachers to get to the blacktop, and then play basketball. We never run out of things to talk about, as Eli is the best conversationalist I know. He is intuitive and curious, always asking me questions about school and my friends. He has a rather deep connection with Collegiate School, as he has been participating in the John Maloney Project (JMP) since he was five years old, and still participates at age eighteen. He returns every year because he loves the people and friendships he’s made over the years. 

Those who know Eli adore his radiant personality. When meeting new people, Eli forms a heart shape with his hands and coos, “Here’s a heart for you!” This is always met with an overjoyed expression and a swoon from his lucky recipient. Eli never fails to make everyone feel loved. I always remind him, after one of these exchanges, that everybody at Collegiate loves him, and he responds, “I know! I always brighten peoples’ days!” He is very aware of the effect he has on people and uses his extroverted qualities to spread joy to those around him. In a recent conversation I had with Eli, he explained to me how COVID-19 and masking were very hard for him, because he could not see his own smile, or others’. Eli thrives on personal connections and is ecstatic that we are now able to interact face-to-face without the barrier of a mask. 

JMP’s overall purpose is to connect Collegiate students with those on the autism spectrum, like Eli, and Collegiate has been involved with the autism community in other ways. Prior to COVID-19, Collegiate held a prom on campus for the Faison School in Richmond, a school dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism. This gave the students at Faison an opportunity to experience a school dance that they would not usually get to attend. Collegiate students and faculty loved volunteering at this prom and hope for it to be continued in the future. Now, many of those teachers volunteer for JMP.

Walking around the track during a spring JMP session in 2022. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Fleming.

Collegiate Upper School art teacher Pam Sutherland, who frequently chaperones JMP, describes Eli as brave. She notes, “He doesn’t hold back. He’s infectious and honest and ebullient.” When those around Eli experience his high-spirited energy, they feel the same sense of excitement. When I am spending time with Eli, he makes me feel accepted. Without judgment, he will listen and encourage me wholeheartedly. Eli’s mother, fierce autism advocate Jennifer Barnum, explained, “Once he knows you and considers you a friend, you will be a lifelong friend of his and be a part of his life.” Though our time together at JMP is dwindling, I am certain that Eli and I will maintain our friendship after I move on to  college and wherever life takes us. JMP allowed us to meet, even though our experiences are completely different, and I get to see a peek of how he navigates life with autism.

Autism spectrum disorder, more commonly referred to as autism, is a disorder categorized by a vast scope of conditions, such as cognitive disabilities, nonverbal communication, social challenges, and repetitive behaviors. Autism affects people at different levels: some may need long-term intensive support, while others need very little attention. As autism is a spectrum, behaviors differ from person to person. 

Eli’s parents first became concerned with his health when he was missing developmental milestones at around 15 months old, and he was formally diagnosed with autism at two and a half. Jennifer explained that they were lucky that he got diagnosed so young, so that he could begin certain therapies sooner. He started occupational therapy and worked on strengthening the muscles that it takes to speak and drink out of a straw, as children with autism sometimes have low muscle tone. This encouraged him to eventually begin speaking, as he was nonverbal until the age of three.  Occupational therapy also entails physical skills, like walking on a balance beam; the goal is to get the brain to work in tandem with the body so that one can stay balanced. Eli’s years of hard work have paid off, as he now speaks and articulates his ideas confidently and thoroughly. This fall, he won Homecoming King at his school, Atlee High School, a testament to his infectious personality. His mother Jennifer is so proud of her boy and all of his accomplishments and can not believe all of the progress he has made: “If you would’ve told me this is the person he would be, I would have never believed it.”

The 2023 Mission Partner Award won by Collegiate School. Photo courtesy of Holly Fairlamb.

Due to JMP and Collegiate’s continued involvement and support of students with autism, Jennifer nominated Collegiate for the “Mission Partner Award,” which they won in fall 2023. Barnum explained, “I wanted you all to get the recognition you deserve.” The award recognizes the students and faculty who show their commitment to supporting their JMP buddies and each other. Collegiate Upper School French teacher Holly Fairlamb (‘82), the faculty advisor for JMP,  expressed that it was an absolute honor to receive the award on behalf of the school. She is proud of the compassion, empathy, and love that all the students and her colleagues have put into the program. 

Students and teacher volunteers arrive for JMP on Sundays. Each student is methodically matched with a buddy from the Autism Society, based on traits and characteristics of the child. The Autism Society of Central Virginia is a non-profit organization that advocates, supports, and provides services for those with autism. Their mission is to “create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully.” This year’s student co-president of JMP, Carter Williams (‘24), explains, “We talk about the qualities of the buddy and see which Collegiate student best matches that personality.” Some buddies who need more attention might be paired up with a “veteran,” a Collegiate student who has been participating in JMP for years and knows how to handle tough situations better than a new student. A buddy might even be paired with two Collegiate students, which often happens because there is an overwhelming amount of interest from Collegiate students to participate in the program. 

The interest comes from returning students each season, and new students who are searching for volunteer opportunities. Students stay for the connections that they form with their buddies, who depend on them to come each Sunday. Co-president Abby Craig (‘24) says, “It feels less like a volunteer obligation and more like a time to have fun.” Each session, students return to rekindle the joyful relationships they formed with their buddies. Charlie Stone (‘25), who has been participating in JMP for two years, said, “It is fun to work with kids with special needs, and it’s fun to see the relationship develop over time.” Azaria Bailey (‘24), in her third year as a JMP buddy, said, “I love knowing I have a connection with a person. Being able to see the same person every week and knowing that they rely on me is a great feeling.” 

Jennifer explains that children with autism need consistency: “[Our kids] grow to know y’all over the six, seven-week period, and the trust that they need to know that you’re going to show up and that you’re a safe person to be around. It takes a while to develop that relationship with our kiddos.” Claire Lareau (‘25) agrees. She has been an active participant in JMP for two years and is paired with her buddy Matthew. Lareau says, “[the buddies] need to have the same routine,” which allows them to become closer with their Collegiate buddies. 

Collegiate students benefit from the program also; opportunities like JMP allows us to interact with people who have different experiences; we get to see glimpses of the real world. Jennifer explains, “All of us need to get out of our bubble, because we tend to associate with people that are like us and are like-minded. But when you are challenged and have opportunities like this, this is when you start to see the world differently, and the magic happens.” Collegiate students and buddies learn from each other; it is not a one-sided relationship. Jennifer continued, “Now that Eli is older, I see that you benefit from it as much. When Eli was younger, and I was still earlier on in my journey, I didn’t see that.” 

Eli has taught me to have a positive attitude. His spirit reminds me that I can only control my actions and need to meet adversity with an optimistic outlook. Williams explained that his past buddies have changed his perspective on life. 

John Maloney in the spring of 2006. Photo courtesy of Andrea Miller.

In the early fall of 2005, financial advisor John Maloney (‘83) reached out to Collegiate Upper School counselor Andrea Miller to create a program in which high school students would be paired with a child on the autism spectrum to build connections, model behaviors, and participate in physical exercise. John’s son Jack has autism and attended the Faison School. Maloney wanted the opportunity for his son to meet new students and allow him to exercise and be himself in a way that would be understood and supported.

One of the challenges Miller and John faced in creating the program were the liabilities. Other schools were hesitant to partner with Maloney, because they did not have the expertise of working with children with autism and did not have the insurance for it. Collegiate, however, paired with Faison School, who would provide insurance, which would give the program its validity. The program finally came into fruition in the spring of 2006 and was called Open Gym. 

That first year, participation was low, with only eight participants and twelve Collegiate students. Granted, the program was new, and people did not know what to expect. However, Open Gym quickly began to take off as more students joined each year. Fairlamb explained that John was truly impressed with how Collegiate students were so willing to give up their Sunday afternoons to come play with their kids. She said, “Our students just jumped right in and did it, wholeheartedly, so genuine in their concern and their interests in the buddies.” It gained so much popularity that Miller and Maloney decided one child with autism could be paired with two Collegiate students, and even had to limit the number of Collegiate students that could participate each session. By the time Miller retired in 2020, there were a grand total of 40 Collegiate students and 25 to 30 buddies every Sunday. In reflecting on her 31 years spent at Collegiate, Miller says she misses JMP the most. 

John Maloney participating in relays with buddies and Collegiate students in 2007. Photo courtesy of Andrea Miller.

Miller credits the program’s success to John’s “determination and spirit.” His personality touched all who participated in the program: buddies, students, faculty, and parents. Every Sunday, he was at Collegiate participating in activities with the children. He did not hesitate to jump into a basketball game or participate in a relay race. John was fully immersed in his work, or what was really his passion. He fiercely advocated for his son and other children on the spectrum. During his lifetime, John was an autism activist who lobbied and worked with state lawmakers to change the ways schools and insurance companies worked with children with autism.

Fairlamb described John: “He was an open and caring person and was so devoted to his son.” John was determined to find something for Jack to do on the weekends, as their other children who were not on the spectrum were able to participate in club sports and activities that were not available to Jack. 

At the end of each session, Collegiate students and buddies gather in a circle, and the buddies tell the group what they accomplished that day. Each announcement is followed by a round of applause. At the end of each season, each buddy receives a trophy to make them feel valued. All of this was John’s idea. He wanted the children to feel special and important. 

In the spring of 2015, John Maloney suddenly passed away from a heart attack. Miller, the student leaders of Open Gym, and parents from Faison wanted to honor Maloney’s legacy by naming the program after him. Miller explained, “It was his vision and determination to grow the program that made it so successful.”

After COVID-19 hit in 2020, parents from the Faison School and faculty from Collegiate were determined to keep the program up and running. As their children were aging out of the program, the parents who ran the open gyms contacted the Autism Society as a new potential partner. The Autism Society fell in love with the program and immediately became Collegiate’s new partner to keep the John Maloney Program afloat. As of the fall 2023 session, there are currently 50 Collegiate students and 38 children from the Autism Society participating.

Maloney’s impact goes far beyond the program he created. He improved the lives of Collegiate students, children with autism, faculty, and parents. His legacy is prevalent each Sunday afternoon, as children of all ages gather together to participate in a program that is much more significant than them. Parents see growth in their children as they progress through JMP; they are more willing to trust their Collegiate buddies. They play and socialize, and they are not afraid to be themselves. Eli has taught me lessons that could never be taught in a classroom, and I am so grateful for the John Maloney Project for giving me and others to grow and become more compassionate people.