Cathleen Mansfield Burke (nickname Kit) Founder & President of The Sullivan Foundation established in Wrentham, MA on January 28, 1991. Kit graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 1989, with a Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology. In search of her geneology, and wanting to know more about a great teacher and her unique methods she began researching the lives of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. In March of 1990, she moved to Wrentham, MA where her two subjects had lived. In January 1993, she moved into Annie and Helen's Wrentham home and lived there happily until May 1999. In 1994, she completed her play "Teacher: The Annie Mansfield Sullivan Story" and opened the Sullivan/Keller Museum.
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Kit in her living-room in the Wrentham Home holding the sign she had made for the Home.
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Kit with the back of the sign for the Wrentham Home.
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Kit in Helen's old bedroom a few days before opening the Sullivan/Keller Museum.
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Kit at the museum in Annie and John's old bedroom.
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While working to promote Annie and Helen's message, Kit was inspired to follow her dream of acting. In 1996, she started doing background work in film and television in Boston. In July 2000, she moved back to her home state of Connecticut and studied acting in New York City. From time to time she works in film and television in NYC.
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Kit received The Legendary New Freedom Award given to Annie Sullivan for creating extraordinary new freedoms for people who have a disability.
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John Chmela, Kit Burke and Mike Ditka at the Inaugural New Freedom Awards July 22, 2003 at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier in Chicago.
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Kit with Marlee Matlin at The Inaugural New Freedom Awards in 2003. The World Ability Frederation is changing the way the world thinks about people with disabilities by focusing on ability, not disability. www.worldabilityfederation.com.
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Cathleen (Kit) given acceptance speech at New Freedom Awards.
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