Enduring Relationships

One of the many great things about the A Better Chance’s Community School programs is the host family experience. Host families are meant to be that “home base” for the scholars while they are here in Andover providing the support that a student wouldn’t normally have while at a traditional boarding school.  

The experience is fulfilling for both the scholar and the family. Sometimes these relationships endure for many years after graduation. An example of a long-lasting scholar/host-family relationship is the one between Andy Chattoo, a scholar from 1974–1976 and his host family mother, Harriet Ahouse.

Andy graduated from Columbia University in 1980 and has lived in California for many years as the proud owner/CEO of a company, Bay Area Brace and Bolt, a construction/restoration/real estate company. But distance has not kept Andy and his host mother Harriet apart. Over the years, Harriet has visited Andy in California four times, most recently in June when she spent 4 days in San Leandro with Andy, his wife, Mary Jane, and 8-year-old son, Alexander.                  

This photo is from their most recent get together in June and shows Harriet, Andy, and Alexander. Andy also has two children, Natalie and Aaron, as well as three grandchildren, from his first wife Pamela Holland, ABC ’77.