Newsletter
Spring 2009 Newsletter
Spring 2009 NewsletterTable of Contents
Volunteers Needed for Taste of Madison
Introducing UCP's Respite Program
UCPeople: Kindred Kids
Thank You, Community Contributors
How You Can Help
22nd Annual Celebrity Banquet & Auction
Introducing "Fridays for Families"
Volunteers Needed for Taste of Madison
If you’ve ever been to the Taste of Madison, you’ve seen hundreds of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) volunteers in action. For the
last 26 years, UCP volunteers
have staffed the beverage stands at the Taste. With the help of over
700 volunteers, we staff 20 beer, wine, and soda stands.Do you have a few hours to give to benefit UCP? Or, do you have a group of friends or coworkers who would like to get together for an afternoon of fun? If so, join us at the Taste of Madison on Saturday or Sunday, September 5th & 6th. UCP receives 100% of the tips earned at the stands to support children and adults with developmental disabilities in southern Wisconsin.
To volunteer, contact Trisha Davies at (608) 237-8508 or trishadavies@ucpdane.org. To find out more, stop by our “Breakfast Meet & Greet” on Friday, April 24th at UCP from 7:30 a.m.—9:30 a.m. Please RSVP to trishadavies@ucpdane.org if you plan to attend.
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Introducing UCP's Respite Program
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County’s (UCP’s) mission is to “enrich the quality of life for the people we serve: in their homes; in their communities; and in their life choices.” That mission now includes families in Dane County who need respite services to provide temporary relief from the every day demands of caring for a family member with a disability.
When a child needs constant care, family members “provide approximately 80% of all long-term services and supports,” according to Respite Care WI. This puts the caregivers’ physical and mental health at risk and has a financial impact as well.
How do we protect the caregivers while they provide this vital service to their loved ones? By offering high quality respite care.
Last November, UCP began providing respite services and is working to build our provider list to provide the best matches between families and caregivers. We currently have a waitlist of families who have requested services.
When asked how respite care would benefit them, one parent shared, "Our family, like many, has had to endure a lot as my son has grown up and UCP has always been there to help work through some really bad times...I try to deal with situations on my own, but...you can't do this job with a child who has autism on your own." Families requesting respite care are not asking for a lot—just a little bit of time to be able to direct their attention elsewhere—to other children, to their parents, to their jobs, to themselves. Respite enables families to continue to provide care for and support their loved one.
If you are interested in providing respite care, please complete an application at our web site or call 273-3318 for information.
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UCPeople: Kindred Kids
Wendy Simyab recalls single months where her medical bills totaled over $10,000 for the care of her daughter, Klementina, who has cerebral palsy. “Play is how kids learn, but often parents are faced with financial challenges and need to use their money for equipment, therapy, and specialists and there is no money left for toys,” said Simyab. It is this first-hand experience that led to the creation of Kindred Kids.
Kindred Kids is a non-profit organization in Columbus, WI, that serves as a lending library for toys, books, and specialized equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and communication devices. Started by Wendy in February, it is a free resource to families who have children with disabilities. The public may also enjoy
borrowing privileges for just
$5 a month. To sum up Kindred Kids as merely a lending library, though, is doing it a disservice. Kindred Kids is a child-friendly place where Wendy hopes visitors will stop in and relax. The rule is that you can play with any toy you can reach while you are there. Children are encouraged to help clean up when they are finished playing – and are rewarded with a treat from the treat box if they do. Adults are treated to coffee or tea while the kids play.
Volunteer jobs are endless, and vary by ability. From drawing chalk pictures on the front cement to helping run the lending library, Wendy finds some way for everyone to help. Parents who volunteer are encouraged to bring their children with them.
Wendy’s passion is to help all children recognize their commonalities and to understand that although having differing abilities may make their needs different, “their hearts are the same. They all just want to be loved and respected.” Wendy hopes that Kindred Kids can serve as a resource not only for families with children with disabilities, but also as a resource for the community, one that invites and educates all children to be more comfortable around children with disabilities.
Donations are accepted for the lending library. Clothes donations are also accepted and are resold to help raise funds. Kindred Kids is open Tuesday—Thursday from noon – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit their website at kindredkids.org.
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Thank You, Community Contributors
Culver’s Foundation
CUNA Mutual Group
Electronic Theatre Controls
Hooper Corporation
JH Findorff & Son, Inc.
Knights of Columbus, Waunakee
Knights of Columbus, St. Barnabas, Mazomanie
Madison Community Foundation
Meriter Health Services
National Mutual Benefit
Pedro’s Mexican Restaurante
Physicians Plus
Smith & Gesteland
The Carey Group
Tri-North Builders, Inc.
Wal-Mart
Westmorland Health Fund
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How You Can Help
When you give to United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County, 90% of all funds raised are allocated to our programs. Here are some ways your donation can make a difference to those living with disabilities:
A $50 gift = a three hour education/therapy session to support the development of a young child with a speech delay.
A $100 gift = a full day of programming to enable two children with special needs to attend a neighborhood child care program.
A $250 gift = adaptive equipment to help support development and mobility needs.
We understand that these are challenging economic times, but to the families supported by UCP services, these programs are essential.
Please take a few minutes and consider how you can help. To donate, please contact Trisha Davies, Director of Development, at (608) 237-8508 or trishadavies@ucpdane.org or make an online donation. Thank you.
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22nd Annual Celebrity Banquet & Auction
United Cerebral Palsy’s 22nd Annual Celebrity Banquet was a smashing success. Fortunately, the snowy weather did not deter the 250 attendees who enjoyed live music, an elegant dinner, a live auction and of course, the celebrity servers. New to the event this year was a live auction which featured four Schwinn bicycles from Pacific Cycles in Madison.
The evening opened with music by Brian Vanderbloemen’s jazz quartet, while guests mingled with one
another and began bidding on
almost 200 different silent auction selections which included
entertainment, fine art, home, getaway and sports packages.United Cerebral Palsy’s (UCP) Executive Director, Camilla Rucinski welcomed attendees. She was followed by the personal account of a family UCP served through it’s Birth to Three program which kept UCP’s focus to be there when families need us most, at the forefront of the event. The Celebrity Banquet’s long-standing emcee, Dan Smith of Triangle Media Works, kept the banquet running smoothly with his enthusiastic personality and sense of humor.
Over 30 local celebrity guest servers from the media, sports and Madison community served attendees their formal dinner. Celebrities also showcased their other talents by performing challenges of singing, drawing and acting out special requests as a way of raising tips to benefit UCP’s programs. Their energy carried them from table to table, entertaining guests throughout the evening.
A special thank you to celebrity server, Sarah Carlson, who carried out her duties beyond the event. Carlson raised an additional $500 through a challenge from Physician’s Plus who requested she do 10 push-ups on her morning show. A few days after the event, Carlson happily completed the challenge on-camera, in her professional attire with a smile. Thank you Sarah and Physician’s Plus.
Thank you to all who supported UCP’s 22nd Annual Banquet by volunteering their time and talents, donating items and by attending the event. Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors American Family Insurance and UW Health; our Community Sponsors Custer Financial Services, Group Health Cooperative, SprintPrint, Inc., and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; and our Special Friend Sponsors CUNA Mutual Group, Dental Health Associates, Godfrey & Kahn, Meriter Health Services, Middleton Community Bank, and Venture Investors; as well as our media sponsor Madison Magazine and Raffle Sponsors Herzing College and Home Health United.
Fundamental to the success of the Celebrity Banquet is the participation of our celebrity servers. Our sincere thanks goes out to: UW Drum Major Jonathan Alfuth, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Cindy Bremser, Sarah Carlson, John Flint & Tammy Lee, Eric Franke, Pat Gallagher, Bill Haight, Meg Hamel, Mike Heller, Mitch Henck, Diana Henry, Joe Herr, Fletcher Keyes, John Kovalic, Doug Moe, Brian Olson, Lee Rayburn, Marsh Shapiro, John Stofflet, Kim Sveum, Chief Noble Wray, Dave Zweifel, UW football players David Gilreath, Dustin Sherer, & Phillip Welch, and UW volleyball players Caity Dupont, Nellie Gabrielsen, Faye McCormack, Elle Ohlander, & Allison Wack.
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Introducing "Fridays for Families"
A lunch event benefiting United Cerebral Palsy each Friday, May 29 - June 26, 2009
- Choose one Friday for your company to participate.
- Order lunch from the menu UCP provides featuring local restaurants.
- Collect $10 from each person who orders lunch.
- Sit back and relax – UCP staff will deliver your lunch to you.
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