February 2020

Staying Active in the New YearIn Stepping Stones' programs, participants are developing

healthy lifestyle habits by staying active!

Martial Arts with Master Strickland

Participants of our Adult Day Services and Step-Up programs enjoy classes with MasterStrickland of Cincinnati Martial Arts Club!

Every week, Master Strickland leads participantsthrough a series of exercises that improvereflexes, mobility and strength.

“Our participants are already saying their KIAsand POWs before he arrives,” said Adult DayServices Program Coordinator Lisa Stevenson.

“They follow his routines to the best of their abilityand have seen the changes themselves in howthey are getting stronger with each visit.”

Stepping Stones extends heartfelt thanks to theJohn Hauck Foundation/Fifth Third Bank forfunding martial arts in the Adult Day and Step-Upprograms.

Saturday Young Adults Club

Throughout the school-year, teen and young adultparticipants love attending Saturday YoungAdults Club! In the program, groups stay activein the gymnasium while exploring a variety offitness activities.

At the Feb. 1 Saturday Club before the SuperBowl, participants got in the spirit of the big gamewith football tosses and drills.

Other club sessions have featured yoga, Zumbaand kick-ball. Participants also have free time inthe gym where they can shoot baskets and useour healthy supply of sporting equipment.

Photo 1: Master Strickland helps Andrew and Matt with theirkicks in Adult Day Services.Photo 2: Matthew and Benjamin toss a football at SaturdayYoung Adults Club.

Chair Yoga Comes to Adult Day Services

Participants of Adult Day Services at our DrexCampus in Norwood have been enjoying thebenefits of chair yoga!

Community volunteer and certified instructorMichael Lau has been leading regular classes inthe year-round program since Fall 2019.

Participants are given the opportunity to attendchair yoga over other afternoon activities and thesessions have grown in popularity. From 10adults in the first class to more than 25 regularattendees currently, the activity has become atrue favorite.

Having Fun While Improving Wellness

"I have arthritis, shared Temeka, a regular atchair yoga. "The classes help stretch out mybody, move my bones and get my blood flowing.And - they're fun!"

Above: Community volunteer and certified yogainstructor Michael Lau leads a chair yoga class.

In class, Lau guides participants through yogaposes such as the triangle and warrior, makingmodifications as needed based on eachindividual’s ability and range of motion. He alsoinstructs everyone through breathing exercisesand stretches to improve circulation.

Our participants laugh and smile with one anotherduring class, encouraging everyone along.

“I love the interaction and enthusiasm of theparticipants and the connection we make eachclass,” shared instructor Michael Lau.

“Chair yoga is a great way to get energized andprovides a good change of pace in the day. Bestof all, it also builds a great sense of community!”

To see more photos of chair yoga, visit the photogallery!

Above: Direct Support Professional CedricCampbell assists Everett in a stretch.

Step-Up Students Attend Ensemble Theatre'sIntegrated Education Classes

Students of the Step-Up Autism AlternativeEducation program are benefitting from weeklyIntegrated Theatre Education classes led byEnsemble Theatre!

The Hunter Heartbeat Method

In each session, students perform a continuationof the story through expression and gainfamiliarity with the characters. They are able torecall where the story left off at the start of class,before choosing a character to perform in scenes.

The integrated classes are highly creative and

The theatre workshop classes use the renownedHunter Heartbeat Method – a series of sensorygames Kelly Hunter developed for youth withautism to explore Shakespeare’s works throughexpression. Hunter is a director, writer and actorbased in the UK whose method has beenadopted by educational programs around theglobe.

Each week, students build on their previousexperience learning Shakespeare classics. Aftercompleting The Tempest, they have moved tostudying A Midsummer Night’s Dream and theadventures of mischievous Puck.

Above: Educational instructors Becca Howell (left) andEsther Cunningham of Ensemble Theater perform a scene ofA Midsummer Night's Dream with Xavier.

encourage students to tap into their imaginations.

“In workshop, students get to choose theircharacters and use creative expression to tell astory," said Ensemble Theatre EducationalInstructor Becca Howell.

"As long as we can get everyone using theirimaginations in some way – that’s a win!"

For more photos of the Ensemble Theatreworkshop, visit the photo gallery.

Above: Aiden and Educational Aide Travis Neltnerparticipate warm-up exercises with Ensemble Theater.

Open Your Heart Nets $104K

On Tuesday, February 4, more than 240 guestsattended Stepping Stones' Open Your Heartdinner, presented by Convalescent Hospital forChildren.

The 12th annual event was held at Eddie Merlot'srestaurant in Montgomery and was chaired byBoard of Trustee Patti Zesch. Netting more than$104,000, it was truly a special occasion that willbenefit life-strengthening programs for peoplewith disabilities.

The night began with a lively cocktail hour.Guests mingled over wine and hors d’oeuvreswhile perusing raffle prizes and pieces of artworkmade by participants of the Adult Day program.To commemorate the Open Your Heart event,program participants designed and paintedcolorful ceramic bistro serving platters.

Following the cocktail hour, guests transitionedinto the dining room for a seated three-coursedinner of surf, turf and Eddie Merlot’s signaturered velvet cupcake for dessert. During dinner,Board of Trustees member Jim Shanahan &Executive Director Chris Adams led a briefprogram thanking sponsors, guests andvolunteers for their continued support.

Then, Jim Shanahan launched a spiritedfundraising donation drive that raised more than$40,000 to support Stepping Stones’ programs.When guests made donations, donors createdtheir centerpieces with colorful pink, purple andwhite balloons to add a slight competitive feel tothe donation drive.

Stepping Stones extends heartfelt thanks to ourdedicated 12th Anniversary Open Your Heartplanning committee, generous sponsors, guestsand raffle donors Scott Reising Jewelers,Montgomery Cyclery, The Kenwood Skyline/Drew& Chantilas Family and Perfect Solutions AV fortruly making this special night such a greatsuccess.

Special thanks to major sponsors ConvalescentHospital for Children, the Heidt Family Foundationand Dina & Chris Taylor.

Click here to see the Open Your Heart photogallery.

Photo 1: Open Your Heart chair Patti Zesch shares amoment with husband Rob Zesch.

Photo 2: Presenting Sponsor Convalescent Hospital forChildren: Guests include Dr. Ted Miller, Mark & AnneStepaniak, Kathy Dempsey, Marianne Miller, and MarieHuenefeld.

Volunteer SpotlightAndrew Schwanekamp

In 2019, Andrew Schwanekampvolunteered an impressive 85 hours in ourSummer Day Camp. This year, he’scontinuing to carry the torch for SteppingStones as an ambassador for our volunteerprogram.

A high school senior, Schwanekamp issupporting the agency by recruitingSaturday Young Adults Club volunteersthrough a marketing internship at Indian HillHigh School. He is networking with hispeers and performing outreach toneighboring schools.

"We thank Andrew for being a champion ofStepping Stones and applaud him forsuccessfully bringing new faces to ourrecreation programs," commented Rec &Leisure Program Coordinator Bridget Rahill.

Above: Andrew Schwanekamp and Nathaniel atSummer Day Camp in 2019.

Above: Andrew Schwanekamp with his volunteerrecruits Andrew Heekin, Duncan Laird, Jack Wrightand Pete Feldkamp at Saturday Young Adults Club.

"Volunteering at Stepping Stones hasreally taught me how to communicate.

It's been great to get to know thedifferent groups and to be able to

understand what each camper needs.

Stepping Stones has made me moreaccepting of others and more positive

about life - including feeling moregrateful. I've lived in a bubble. Being

able to spend time at Stepping Stoneshas made me thankful for what I have."

-- Andrew SchwanekampSenior, Indian Hill High School

Our Summer 2020 program seasonkicks off in June and runs throughAugust 7th!

Register for Summer Programs

Sign Up to Volunteer

Apply to Join Our Staff Team

www.SteppingStonesOhio.org