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Gary Davis: National Director of Affiliate Services (8/3/04)

For over twenty-three years Gary Davis has been an advocate for United Cerebral Palsy affiliates within our national organization. He has the longest tenure of any employee on the national staff.

Gary first began working in the nonprofit sector as executive director of the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Program (SCAN) for ten years. There he led an organization dedicated to caring for young victims of child abuse.

In 1981, Gary Davis joined the staff at UCP of Little Rock, Arkansas, as Development Director. Four years later he was hired to the national UCP staff to lead the national United Cerebral Palsy telethon. As support for a national telethon began to wane, he worked to replace it with a two hour television special. He has also organized 15 annual conferences and countless regional affiliate conferences.

In 1998, Davis became Director of Affiliate Services to help affiliates navigate through tough times, improve programs and services, and develop new sources of funding.

A prolific traveler, Gary has amassed two million frequent flier miles building personal relationships with affiliates around the country.

"I am truly blessed to do what I do," said Davis. "I have traveled and seen first hand amazing UCP affiliate programs. I have witnessed a little girl take her first step, and a young man get his first paycheck."

Davis also is quick to say the future is bright for UCP consumers, because of the hard work of affiliate staff.

"We are raising a new generation of people with disabilities that know no boundaries. With technology and innovative supports, these young people will simply expect to go to college and get jobs."

To learn more about the support UCP provides directly to affiliates around the country, e-mail Gary.

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