Issue: 1
CORTNEY’S FOUNDATION
Making A Difference Being handicapped is not a life-sentence, but rather a life-style
January 2011
QUARTERLY REPORT
My Inspiration... Cindy Carpenter
President and Founder
Board of Directors Cindy Carpenter, President Jim Carpenter Vice-President Benée Hilton – Spiegel, Secretary Pamela Covella, Esq. Counsel of Record Vince Burke, Director Rob Cimato, Director Melissa Lehman, Director Michael Pradia, Director Honorary Event Chairmen Tom Lehman, PGA Tour Professional Jon Flora, President, Fry’s Food Stores
As we begin to venture into a New Year, I tend to collect my thoughts and like so many of you out there, look to the future and reflect on our lives in the present tense. It doesn’t take long to realize how truly blessed we all are, and one doesn’t have to look very far – at least that’s how I feel each and every day of my life. It was only twenty-five years ago, on Thanksgiving weekend that our daughter Cortney was born. She arrived with a host of medical issues, and quite frankly no one knew if she would survive; be it that day, or for how long. Even the doctors weren’t sure. Given the circumstance, the life challenges, prognosis and journey, my husband and I choose at that moment to embrace a positive outlook which would be our mantra for the rest of our lives together. We quickly sought after professionals with a positive attitude; because we knew that in order to ensure Cortney’s survival, her health and welfare, we needed to surround ourselves with those who see the glass as half-full and that possibilities do exist. Through hard work and commitment to those with Special Needs, I will forever dedicate our efforts on behalf of Cortney’s Foundation to see that others just like Cortney will have opportunities to live full and enriched lives through education and inclusion. This is the core of our program, giving way to our belief that… being handicapped is not a life-sentence, but rather a life-style. As we quickly approach our 3rd year of operation at our location in Scottsdale, we express our heartfelt thanks to our staff who exude the warmth and professionalism which makes our program unique, to all our families in our program, and in particular, we are so very grateful to our donors. Without all these moving parts, our program would not be as successful as it is. We continue to grow in leaps and bounds, and now at a maximum student capacity of 17 with a waiting list. The need to enlarge and serve more students brings the program to a juncture where we need to explore all the options allowing us to expand and meet the needs of more students. We will NOT however at any time compromise the distinguishing nature of our program for those with Special Needs. Cortney’s Foundation has become a fixture in the community and together with support and direction of our wonderful Board members, we will no doubt continue to flourish.
Our Program’s
3rd Annual Golf Tournament Dinner & Auction
Shoot for the Stars Event
Value Statements • We focus on the desires, preferences, strengths and choices of each individual first and foremost. • We support the rights, worth and dignity of all individuals
On November 1, 2010, we held our largest fundraising event of the year for the Foundation! Held at the Country Club at DC Ranch, we were blessed with a beautiful day and a sold out roster of 132 players with a waitlist of players. Our Honorary Chairmen, PGA Tour Player Tom Lehman, and Jon Flora President of Fry’s Food Stores, made our event so very special. There was a scrumptious dinner served in the courtyard of the Country Club under the magnificent evening stars which made our night magical. The participants enjoyed the music of Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie, a well known Scottsdale band now headlining in Vegas, and an incredible silent and live auction with items such as private jets, golf at the prestigious Bel Air Country Club in California with two tour professionals, a vacation at Half Moon Bay, and a dinner at the home of PGA Tour Player Duffy Waldorf who was there personally to auction it off! We even had 4 tickets for amazing seats to attend the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. These were just a few of the exciting items which contribute to making our event exceptional and so extraordinary. We appreciate all our wonderful volunteers and applaud their hard work and unselfish dedication to make our annual event triumphant. This year we are proud to report that we raised $150,000, which represents a 30% increase from the previous year. Our annual fundraising is our lifeline to sustainability for the program, and we’d like to acknowledge our roster of sponsors:
Golf Committee Members Honorary Co-Chairs: Tom Lehman and Jon Flora Event Chair: Lisa Riley Golf Chair: Jim Carpenter Dinner Chair: Cheryl Solano Auction Chair: Joan Raskin Advisor: Cindy Carpenter
Jim Adams Sue Adams Lisa Berry Vince Burke Bonnie Caniglia Rob Cimato Maria Hearley Benée Hilton-Spiegel Joanne Hirsch-Szpaizman
Colleen Katz Marsha Kenney Karen LaDouceur Wendy Langerman Eloisa Lee Melissa Lehman Debbie Losole Kui Mi Oh Michael Pradia
Jenna Raskin Linda Schwaba Lisa Shugrue Paula Smalley Tracy Stupi Lynn Torrel Holly Truxell Jennifer Zwiefel
Shoot for the Stars Event Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Fry's Special Sponsors Hensely Distributing/AnheuserBusch Frito Lay Blue Bell Ice Cream Southern Wine and Spirits Co-Sales
Cart Sponsors Pete King Construction Roadrunner Drywall TOCA Valet Sponsor American Gypsum Media Sponsor So Scottsdale
Galaxy Sponsor Coca Cola
Virtual Golf Ball Drop Sponsor CDS Insurance
Cosmic Sponsors Alliance Beverage JJAG Sales/Adobe Drywall American Gypsum Everett & Paulette Davis David and Cindy Lorsch Cemco Certainteed Gypsum MKB Construction National Gypsum Southwest Building Materials Marc Center Jeff and Diane Lehman Mark & Karen LaDouceur Shamrock Foods Nikko Metals BBVA Compass Jon & Jane Schwartzman United Metal Products Delta Diversified Gibralter American Gypsum Deer Valley Dentistry Juan & Cheryl Solano
In-Kind Donors 123 Print Alanna Mack, PLC Brett Roberson The Country Club at DC Ranch JennaRaskin.com Edit Alchemy Gordon Galloway Zowie Bowie BB Smokes
$500,000 Hole-In-One Sponsor Tom and Melissa Lehman Lunch Sponsor Delta Diversified
Volunteers Michelle Erickson, Carmen Portela, Courtney Siddoway, Deb Brunke, Michelle Dominquez, Crystal, McPhee, Lisa Klemobage, Janice Wagner, Bev Nuessle, Lisa Meline, Joan Sparber, Diane Lehman, Laura Condon, Jim Bell, Jerry Lehman, Arlene Lehman, Ken Melnick, Helene Melnick, Jo Ellis, Chelsea Carpenter, Austin Lehman, Shari Hilton, Eva Hilton, Madison Raskin, Dillon Shugrue, Emily Stupi and Dara Mandell.
Our Program’s Value Statements • We support each
individual to achieve their highest level of personal independence. • We support each individual to actively participate in community enriched experiences as part of his/her daily life. • We ensure that families are actively engaged with the program in support of the individual. • We provide individuals with a modern innovative environment providing stimulation in order to procure growth and development.
Adaptive Technology Assessment In October the program welcomed a physical therapist who came to evaluate our facility in order to make recommendations on how to ‘Engineer our Environment’. Highly specialized and attuned to our needs, suggestions were made so we could find ways to continue our user friendly atmosphere for all our students. One such proposal was a touch screen for our computers; and large keyboards accessible for those with visual impairments, sight restrictions and/or limitations. It would also help to engage with communication restrictions, as some non-verbal students would be able to express their needs using these devices as well. Implementation of suggestions and ideas help us to create a more adaptive world for those with special needs. After the assessment, the therapist came in to train our staff on the implementation of the suggested ideas. This includes high tech and low-tech forms of communication as well as changes to the environment in order to better serve the needs of our student population. This training process is necessary for the growth and advancement of our program; however it is one facet which can be cost prohibitive. We will continue seek funds in order to acquire more training which definitely sets our program apart from others.
Our Program’s Value Statements • We empower the
individuals to have control over their environment. • We create a positive and nurturing environment where individuals are treated with compassion. • We encourage individuals to build relationships with family, peers, friends, and community. • We support and encourage individuals to discover new interests and activities and to try new skills.
The Snoezelen Room Cortney’s Foundation is so excited and pleased to announce that we are finally able to build and furnish our sensory integration room which is trademarked by the name ‘Snoezelen’. This long awaited addition to our program was received via a grant from an anonymous donor. We extend a huge thank you, as this will make a marked difference in the everyday lives of our students. The Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory adaptive room which houses soothing sights and sounds highly developed for those with Special Needs. Oftentimes, over stimulation occurs for these individuals, and this type of room provides the necessary down time for relaxation, refinement, and awakening of the senses as needed. The concept of the Snoezelen Room has a proven record of success for all types of individuals from traumatic brain injuries, those who are developmentally delayed, autistic, all the way to Alzheimer’s patients. This is truly a remarkable addition, and we are anxious to open it up so our community of students can begin to see its benefits. No doubt this highly anticipated adaptive technology is another facet which reflects the uniqueness of our program.
Calendar Highlights
Each day is special and distinctive at the program center. From the Special Olympics, holiday celebrations, computer labs, and art programs, our students enjoy variety all of which add depth to their daily lives. At our Thanksgiving Holiday Feast, our students decorated and hosted for their families and program staff a special get-together. We all shared our personal blessings; what they were thankful for and what they looked forward to. When Cortney’s Foundation is mentioned as the blessing in someone’s life, we know that we have a responsibility to continue to make a difference. It is the program’s dedication to find meaningful and distinct ways to empower their personal capacity.
Our Program’s Value Statements • We celebrate
selfworth and individualized accomplishment.
• We maintain an ongoing awareness of the evolving individual needs of those with disabilities.
Community Outings & Events What a treat! Our students in the program recently attended a performance of the Radio City Rockettes in past December. Making this type of outing a reality for those with Special Needs was not only stimulating, but added another dimension to their life experience. The capacity to be part of something in our wonderful and exciting community only goes to prove that everyone should have an opportunity. When you witness the depth of smiles and laughter from our students, you understand the need for programs which are dedicated to their inclusion within the community. We also participated in the Special Olympics for Bowling, where some of our students received medals in gold, silver, and bronze. Events such as these build self-esteem, and help an individual with Special Needs experience and excel to their personal potential. This is an important part of our intrinsic program and a key to their daily lives. In addition, and keeping with our traditional monthly Cultural Day, our students continue to learn about the customs, foods and culture of various countries like Brazil, Israel and Mexico. We appreciate our parents who have volunteered their time to teach this to our students. We continue to do our weekly grocery shopping at Fry’s where our students select their menu with the assistance of pictures and continue to learn life skills through choice making and the utilization of money. Each day the students prepare a hot meal and enjoy the ‘family’ atmosphere of eating together as a group. In doing so, they continue to work on their social skills and nutritional well-being. Unique to our program, there is no fee for any of the activities.
Future Dates February 26th 2nd Annual Event
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL Featuring fabulous prizes, a better-than Vegas
experience, and a whole new way of supporting Cortney’s Foundation. This year we expect a SOLD OUT CROWD featuring celebrity appearances, incredible entertainment, and an unbelievable location! For more information concerning sponsorships, please contact Michael Pradia at 480-202-9464 Make sure to visit our website at www.CortneysFoundation.org
Issue: 1 January 2011
Together We Can Make A Difference Please Accept My Donation
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Cortney’s Foundation is a 501 ©3 not for
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Fax: 480-451-1506
Address: Contributors: Tyler Ludwig: Kay Ziplow: Design Writer
Karen LaDouceur: Photos
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Detach and Mail to: Cortney’s Foundation • 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430 • Scottsdale, AZ 85254
From the Heart............................. So many times those with Special Needs like my daughter Claudia, are forgotten as they get older. While there are programs for those as adults, they are limited and none compare to the program like Cortney's Foundation. With a family feeling, the program provides guidance, education, support and a lot of stimulation. Most of all, Claudia herself feels that she is doing something worthwhile in her life. She has always been a happy young lady and now with the program and support, she is able to achieve many of her wonderful dreams post high school. Claudia has made many great friends and blossomed in the short time enrolled at Cortney's Foundation. As a parent, I always wondered what my daughter's life would be like as a young adult; I never imagined she would be part of such an amazing program and such a nurturing environment. Maria Rodriguez
What is Cortney’s Foundation?
Cortney’s Foundation 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430 Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Being handicapped is not a life-sentence, but rather a life-style
Cortney’s Foundation is dedicated to providing physically & mentally challenged persons an array of opportunities through education and programs for life.
Inside this Issue Pg. 2
Shoot For The Stars Event 3rd Annual Dinner & Auction
Pg. 3
Shoot For The Stars Event Sponsors
Pg. 4
Adaptive Technology Assessment
Pg. 5
The Snoezelen Room Calendar Highlights
Pg. 6
Community Outings & Events Future Dates
Pg. 7
Donation Information From The Heart...... A Mother’s Thanks
Cortney’s Foundation 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 www.CortneysFoundation.org
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