QUARTERLY REPORT July 2011

Issue: 3

Being handicapped is not a life-sentence, but rather a life-style

A Vision For The Future...Cindy Carpenter

Did you know there are approximately 16,000 Special Needs adults living at home and receiving no services in Arizona?

Five years ago, when I pondered Cortney’s future as an adult with Special Needs, I had no idea how enormous the numbers were in our community. Given the statistics which are mind-boggling, makes me all the more driven to see that the mission of Cortney’s Foundation will live on for generations to come. With that in mind, a key ingredient is to secure and sustain the program.

Sustainability for Cortney’s Foundation will be defined by our ability to go beyond the fundraising events and look to a foundation of resources and endowments. As you will read in this issue, the Program Manager reports of reductions in State and Federal funds and changes to our financial capacity, oftentimes not in our control. Regardless of the reduction in funding, we need to continue to grow with our rising population right at our own back door.

As reported by Marc Center (a collaboration with Cortney’s Foundation), that despite the need, the legislature cut our budget by more than 10% for the current year and is poised for a comparable reduction again. Huge cuts have a dramatic impact - yet we continue to serve the same amount of people (or more) at less cost.

Sustainability is defined by caring members of our community who want to leave a legacy.

Sustainability means that Young Adults with Special Needs in our community will have a future and purposeful life.

Sustainability means you want to make a difference.

Sustainability means you can make the difference.

On behalf of Cortney’s Foundation, we appreciate you embracing the same care and concern for our future.

Board of Directors

Cindy Carpenter President

Jim Carpenter Vice-President

Vincent BurkeSecretary

Pamela Covella, Esq. Counsel of Record

Benée Hilton – SpiegelDirector

Rob CimatoDirector

Melissa LehmanDirector

Michael PradiaDirector

Circle Of Friends

Tom LehmanPGA Tour Professional Jon Flora, PresidentFry’s Food Stores

Tony PhillipsRetired MLB Player

Tara Hitchcock, Host“Good Morning Arizona” 3TV

CORTNEY’S FOUNDATION

Making A Difference

President and Founder

An Overview of Commitment

Due to our current economic landscape which changes local resources for the program, and cuts in the state budgets; we MUST be advocates to make sure none of this impacts the Special Needs community which we serve. With the support from our community, families and friends, we are determined to provide services without ever compromising the integrity or quality of our program. As Program Manager, I look to operating our program in an efficient manner with continued focus and commitment on meeting our individuals’ needs as our number one priority.

One of our greatest strengths is our ability to adapt to these changing times with-out impacting the quality of services. As a matter of fact, Cortney’s Foundation in May of 2009 was reduced by 10% of state funding for each individual in our pro-gram, and potentially, we are looking to a 5% cut effective October 2011. All cuts challenge us to look to manage efficiently areas such as transportation, food, & utilities while sustaining the fundamental principals of our program. In addi-tion, we have creatively found ways to draw upon the community activities which are free or donated to our program such as plays, museums, baseball games, Fry’s cake decorating , cooking demonstrations, and Scottsdale Fire Department Home Safety Program just to name a few. Drawing upon community resources are a key ingredient which help to reduce costs without impacting quality.

Each part of our programming, which is translated into a planned monthly calendar for our program attendees, enhances their lives and helps them to reach their individual potential. Even with the challenges, we have seen significant growth in our program in the last year. The number of families requesting services continues to add to that challenge and we must be aware of the increase in our community’s need.

Many astonishing things can happen when we come together with one common goal “to make a difference in someone’s life.” As we look to the future, our organization is committed to our fundamental mission.

Our Program’s Value Statements

• 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.

• We empower the

individuals to have control

over their environment.

• We create a positive and

nurturing environment where

individuals are treated with

compassion.

• We focus on the desires,

preferences, strengths and

choices of each individual

first and foremost.

Terry Wideman, Program Manager

There are many programs and worthwhile charitable organi-zations that I have been involved with over the years in our community. I have always believed in giving back, and I have always believed in “being an inch wide and a mile deep” with the people in my life and with the things I believe in. While it is easy to get spread so thin by the numerous good things that compete for my time, it would be easy for me to miss out on that which, to me, is best. Being an inch wide and mile deep with Cortney’s Foundation is what I have chosen to do because I believe in it and best for me to support.

My husband has asked me more than once to put into words why it is that I feel the way I do about Cortney and Cortney’s Foundation. It has caused me to really think it through and become very clear on just why I do. The simple reason is that everyone, including those with Special Needs, should have the opportunity to maximize their potential and reap the contentment and positive self image that comes with achieving that. I don’t want Special Needs adults to be forgotten, overlooked, or short-changed in any way in our community. It is my passion to do all that I can do in my sphere of influence, and as much as is possible as a Board Member to make sure these individuals have a sustain-able program offering education and important life skills now and for future generations to come.

A Board Member’s PerspectiveBy Melissa Lehman

Calendar Highlights

Our Program’s Value Statements

• 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.

• We celebrate selfworth

and individualized

accomplishment.

•We maintain an ongoing

awareness of the evolving

individual needs of those

with disabilities.

•We support the rights,

worth and dignity of all

individuals.

•We support each individual

to achieve their highest level

of personal independence.

Our students enjoy a wide variety of activities at Cortney’s Foundation, and we pride ourselves in drawing upon the many resources available in our community. Each activity, celebration, demonstration, or outing contribute to the fullness of life and inclusion for our students. Highlights included:

Attending the play at Valley Youth Theater: Alexandra and the Horrible, Terrible , No good, Very Bad Day

• Cracker Jax Amusement Park• Fry’s Cake Decorating Class Event• Paradise Valley Mall and viewing the movie

‘Hop’ • Saghuaro Lake Desert Belle Cruise and Lake

Tour.

• Arizona Science Center• Mexico Cultural Day• Bass Pro Shop visit and lunch• Fry’s Grocery Store Tour• Fire Station • Ringling Brothers & Barnum Baily Circus• Diamondbacks Baseball Game

MUSIC THERAPYSTRIKES A CHORD WITH CORTNEY’S FOUNDATION

by Julie MurilloOne day a week, the students of Cortney’s Foundation have enjoyed and benefited from music therapy with Julie Murillo, MT-BC, since the facility opened its doors in 2008. Music Therapy is highly effective with cognitive, sensory and motor impairment, and is a non-pharmacological ap-proach to learning, healing, coping, and change, with well documented results.

Music provides concrete, multi-sensory stimulation and gives those with Special Needs a unique variety of expe-riences in a developmentally appropriate and success-oriented manner. Regardless of whether a student in the program is verbal or non-verbal, music therapy emits responsiveness through ex-changes such as smiles, eye contact, and gestures. All of which contribute to provide reassurance, and reinforcement – necessary to development and individual growth potential. While functioning levels vary among individuals at Cortney’s Foundation, the young adults remain as active participants in all aspects of the therapy session, which includes the use of instruments such as small hand percussions, choosing a song, hand signals such as thumbs up and a variety of interaction to the music.

There is a measurable sense of progress and personal achievement resulting from the music portion of the weekly program. Following are just a few examples of how the young adults at Cortney’s Foundation have benefited:

• Improvedcognitiveandcommunicationskills• Improvedenvironmentalandbodyawareness• Increasedmotivation• Decreasedinappropriatebehaviors• Improvedmotorfunctioningandperceptualmotorskills• Increasedvocalfluencyandphysicalspeechskills• Improvedsensoryprocessingandintegration• Increasedinvolvementandparticipation• Improvedgroupbehaviors• Increasedemotionalawarenessandappropriateemotionalexpression• Improvedself-esteem,senseofaccomplishment,senseofindependenceandcontrol

As impressive as all that might sound, each student ultimately is having a grand time! With music therapy, at the very least, we’re improving quality of life and bringing measurable joy to these individuals… no doubt we’re doing something right!

SAVE THE DATEOur Annual Golf Event November 7th

Visit our website at www.CortneysFoundation.org for details.

Check Out Cortney’s FoundationProviding Special Lifeskills fo Special Adults

Issue: 3 July 2011

Please Accept My DonationTogether We Can Make A Difference

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Detach and Mail to: Cortney’s Foundation • 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430 • Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Cortney’s Foundation

is a 501 (c)3 not for profit charity.

Tax id #42-1745079

Phone: 480-419-5852

Fax: 480-451-1506

www.CortneysFoundation.org

Find Us on Facebook & Twitter @CortneysOrg

Tyler Ludwig:Design

Contributors:Kay Ziplow:Editor

Karen LaDouceur:Photographer

A Donor’s Commitment Changes Lives......

-DanielC.Shufelt,CPA

Iamaco-TrusteeofasmalllocalCharitableTrust.Inthiscapacity,IhavelearnedagreatdealaboutthetremendousworkthatmanyArizonabasedcharitiesprovide.AnumberofyearsagoIwasintroducedtoCortney’sFoundationbymywife,Cheryl.Sheandourstandardpoodle,Teddy,wereprovidingpettherapyservicestoChaparralHighSchoolwhereCortneywasenrolled.CheryllearnedthroughhervisitsofCindyCarpenter’seffortstoestablishafacilitytoprovideanenvironmentwhereindividualswhohadagedoutofthepublicschoolsystemcouldbestimulatedtolearnandgrow. In2007,LenMillerandIvisitedthefacilityselectedbyCindyandtheBoardofDirectorsofCortney’sFoundationwhenitwasinthedrywallstage.WespoketoCindyandlearnedofhervisionandpassion.Wedecidedtoprovideasmallamountoffundingtoassistintheconstructionprocess.Atthatpointintime,theeconomywasdoingwellandtheTrusthadasmallamountofdiscretionaryfundsthatwedistributedtocharitieswithwhomwehadnothadanestablishedrelationship.OurthoughtwasthatCortney’sFounda-tionwasagoodchoiceforaone-timecontribution. LaterthatyearCindyinvitedustovisitthenewlyopenedfacility.Wewereamazedatthetransfor-mationofthepremisesfromthecoldanddrearyshellspaceintothewarm,invitingandwelcomeatmo-spherethatgreetclientsandvisitorstoday.UponseeingthesmilesandthejoyinthefacesofCortney’sclientsandhearingoftheprogramsandservicesthatwerebeingprovided,weknewthatwehadmadetherightdecisioninprovidingfunds. WefoundaneworganizationtoaddtoourfavoredcharitieslistandcontinuetofundtheprogramsofCortney’sFoundation.WeapplaudtheBoard,employeesandvolunteersforcreatingaprogramcenterwhichtrulyraisesthebarforprovidingservicesandgrowingopportunitiesforthephysicallyandmentallydisabled.

$100 o $250 o $250 o

$1000 o $5000 o Other o

o In Honor Of o In Memory Of Donate This

Cortney’s Foundation 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Inside this IssuePg. 1 A Vison For The Future by Cindy Carpenter President and FounderPg. 2 An Overview of Commitment By Terry Wideman

Pg. 3 Music Therapy By Julie Murillo

Calendar Highlights

Pg. 4 Save The Date 4th Annual Golf Event Photo Gallery

What is Cortney’sFoundation?

Cortney’s Foundation 7000 E. Shea Blvd. Suite #1430Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Phone: 480-419-5852www.CortneysFoundation.org

Find Us

Cortney’s Foundation is dedicated to providing physically & mentally challenged persons an

array of opportunities through education and programs for life.

Pg. 5 Donation Information A Donor’s Commitment.....

A Board Member’s PerspectiveBy Melissa Lehman