Monrovia Teacher Raises Thousands To Send Student With Autism On Dream Trip To 'Thomas The Tank Engine' Theme Park

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A local teacher has raised thousands of dollars to send one of her students to Thomas Land, a "Thomas The Tank Engine"-inspired theme park in the Boston area.

Ani Baker, a teacher at Bradoaks Elementary in Monrovia, wanted to find a way to reward and encourage one of her special needs students, 8-year-old Kingston Jones, who has autism.

Jones was struggling in school as recently as a year ago, but has blossomed socially and academically in the past year, Baker said.

Since Jones loves trains, Baker launched a crowdfunding campaign to send Jones and his family to the Boston-area park, which has attractions based on the cartoon, "Thomas & Friends." The campaign has raised nearly $7,000.

"He will bring back the joy that he gains on this trip and he will spread it around, too," Baker said.

For more information, go to www.gofundme.com/thomasland.