Director: Shepherd Baum
Shep grew up in Manhattan and was diagnosed at a very young age with severe dyslexia. After many years (and tutors), he grew to embrace his disability and use it as a strength. Shep graduated from the University of Maryland and entered the world of finance. He then bought, ran, and sold small businesses- but never felt fully satisfied. It wasn’t until Shep’s second child was born that he figured out his life calling. His daughter Lila was diagnosed with a P-ten mutation. In addition to severe learning disabilities, and growth challenges, Lila has an abnormally high chance of getting cancer. That’s when everything changed. Shep decided to give up everything to enrich the lives of children with special needs and their families. Shep’s wife, Amanda, has been teaching special education for over a decade, and is now at the Winston Transitions program in Midtown Manhattan. Their two children are Chase (17 years) and Lila (15 years). Shep now has three passions, in no particular order: his biological family, his Summit Camp Family, and The New York Giants.