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SILENT NIGHT
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CFL Dreamplex Gala
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Manage My Money
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AFP- National Philanthropy Day
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SILENT NIGHT
Save the Date for Gala
RAMPAGE
MISSION
Board of Directors Chair
Mellissa Slover-Athey
Vice Chair Maxine Moul
Treasurer
Secretary
Steve Beres
Cheryl Stone
Past Chair Kim Byerly
Member Dr. Maxine Ruddock
James “Jim” Moody
Christopher Pruitt
Ronika Carter
Kyle Len
Tamara Mackroy
Christopher Nelson
Michelle Blake
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“CIL, in partnership with the community, promotes inclusion of people with disabilities by eliminating architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers. CIL provides education, resources, and training to enhance self-determination through informed choice.”
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A Dream Night for A Good Cause Article by: Hector Del Valle, CIL Board Member
On October 23rd, Central Florida Dreamplex held its 7th Annual Gala and Silent Auction at the Clermont Arts & Recreation Center- What a sight to see so many diverse and generous people in one place, who were there to give and support the Dreamplex. The first individuals I wanted to talk to were Amy Gomes, Central Florida Dreamplex Board President, and Cameron Gomes, Central Florida Dreamplex Executive Director- a mother and son team that is making dreams come true! I wanted to thank them for their persistence and desire to reach out to the entire disability community to create a “Yes I Can!” atmosphere for individuals despite their physical, mental, emotional and behavioral issues. From there, I spotted Miss Florida, Michaela McLean, and we briefly discussed Her three-pronged approach to promoting young women’s social media literacy which involves establishing and maintaining healthy habits, advocating for femalecentric legislation, and funding of advisory councils to facilitate meaningful conversations resulting in positive mental health and productive lifestyles. She empowers young women through The Brave & Beautiful Experience, an all-girls gathering that is a creative blend of heartfelt testimony, talented performances, and relevant teaching from a credible team of speakers and performers”
Apart from the A-list of inspirational individuals that I got to meet, dinner and entertainment were also fantastic. I am proud to say that the Central Florida Dreamplex raised $50,000 at the event- funds that will help to ensure that the dreams of unique individuals continue to come true. The Central Florida Dreamplex is a center for fitness, recreation, and sports designed specifically for individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. Their programs include traditional and recreational therapies, adaptive sports, and group fitness classes for the whole family. They also house an accessible and adaptive fitness center, after-school care and school break camps, and social programming throughout each month. Members, patients, and visitors represent a diverse list of disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputees, visual impairments, and other learning and intellectual disabilities. The vision of the Dreamplex is a community that allows all persons regardless of their ability to achieve their dreams. For more information about the Central Florida Dreamplex and what they’re doing to make our community a better place for all, visit their website at www.cfldreamplex.com.
As I was escorted to my dinner table, I ran into no other than Kevin Brousard. Born with Stargardt’s Disease, a rare retinal disorder, Kevin has been blind since birth. A target of childhood bullying, he found an outlet through the world of adaptive sports. In track and field, Brousard has amassed 3 world titles, 3 Pan American titles and the US Paralympic record in the discus. He currently trains in the sport of judo at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, with hopes of representing Team USA at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
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On Saturday, November 2nd the Center for Independent Living partnered with and Wells Fargo and the Florida Department of Financial Services to bring “Manage My Money Day” to Central Florida. Manage My Money Day is an annual event facilitated by the Department of Financial Service. This event takes place in different cities around Florida, specifically designed for persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Manage My Money Day brings an array of financial institutions together to share their services for/to persons with disabilities. Additionally, for this specific “Manage My Money Day” other non-profit and community resources were on site bringing a wide arena of information to attendees. Wells Fargo spearheaded bringing this event to Central Florida “Our goal is to help every person in our local community succeed financially,” said Wells Fargo Central Florida Community Relations Senior Consultant, Candice Simmons. This event was beneficial for CIL consumers as well as anyone in the community with a disability looking for resources that can help them live independently.
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The Association of Fundraising Professionals holds its National Philanthropy Day Award Ceremony in November of each year. This event celebrates the spirit of philanthropy in our community and honors individuals, companies, and non-profits that make Central Florida a better place to live each and every day. This year the Center for Independent Living was 1 of 3 non-profits honored with the Wells Fargo Diversity & Inclusion Award. This honor is presented to a corporation or nonprofit organization that empowers their constituents, employees, and/or community by respecting and appreciating what makes them different. Since 1976, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) has promoted the inclusion of people with disabilities in everything it does fostering accessibility & diversity in the work place, with its board & volunteers and most of all in the services it provides to Central Floridians. With over 51% of its employees and board having a disability, they are truly committed to a peer-to-peer approach in its mission of breaking down barriers.
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Center for Independence Living hosted its annual Silent Night Holiday social event at AdventHealth Winter Park on Friday, December 13. Over 90 guests, Volunteers, and CIL staff attend the holidaythemed event; a record number of attendees for this event. Originally, the holiday celebration was created solely for CIL’s Deaf community, but has since grown and opened up to all of their clients and their families; an action taken to embody Center for Independence Living’s mission to remove barriers of daily life activites in the community.
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Visit www.cilorlando.org for a full image gallery! ACCESS QUARTERLY
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Celebrating Independence Gala
2020
Friday, June 12th 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Alfond Inn
Presented by For more information about the 2020 Celebrating Independence Gala, visit www.cilorlando.org
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THANK YOU TO OUR FALL 2019 RAMPAGE PARTNERS
To learn more about Rampage and how you can get involved as a volunteer or sponsor, visit www.cilorlando.org/rampage
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VISIT WWW.CILORLANDO.ORG TO LEARN MORE EMAIL: INFO@CILORLANDO.ORG WINTER PARK OFFICE 720 N DENNING DRIVE WINTER PARK, FL 32789 PHONE: 407-623-1070
LAKELAND OFFICE 5125 S. LAKELAND DRIVE, SUITE 4 LAKELAND, FL 33813 PHONE: 863-413-2722