Celebration of Caring Tour - 2011Tour - 2011

Alliance for Alliance for IndependenceIndependence

– AFI –

O i i t kOur giving at work• On July 25, 2011, QMI Team Members

toured the Alliance for Independence to observe United Way funds making a difference in our community:• Jacob Bradley, Esmin Griffin,

Mike Harris, Owen Heatwole, Jeff Krenz, Kyle Mills, Steven Morgan, K i t M G l d N tKristen Moser, Garland Newton, Jeff Smith, Rachel Vandiver, Tony WashingtonTony Washington

QMI To r TeamQMI Tour Team• With AFI Tour Guides

Busses travel more than 140 000than 140,000 miles annually to transport clients from remoteremote areas.

Alli f I d dAlliance for Independence• Private, nonprofit organization founded 1954• Teaches fundamentals of independence for

adults with developmental disabilities:p• Examples; Autism, Prader-Willy Syndrome

and Spina Bifidap• Provides training in more than 300 basic life

skill to:• Achieve independence• Contribute to our community• Contribute to our community

AFI’s Main EntranceAFI’s Main Entrance• AFI Tour Guides; Ashley Hall & Katie Daltry – l. & r.

UWCF’ Mi h l Ehl b k t• UWCF’s Michael Ehlenbeck – center• AFI client operated transport golf cart

AFI’ P id t / CEOAFI’s President / CEO• Shirley Balogh; AFI President & CEO (r.) • QMI’s Kristen Moser; tour’s note taking specialist (l.)

Special thanks to K i t h tKristen, whose note taking allowed your presenter to photographphotograph community members whose lives United Way changes everyWay changes every day. Kristen’s notes improve this presentation pthroughout.

K i t ’ N t Q tKristen’s Notes Quotes• AFI is a teaching center that allows those lessAFI is a teaching center that allows those less

fortunate than us to learn social skills and build lifelong friendships. Some of the AFI member clients h b b d f l t 40have been on board for close to 40 years.

• The AFI team has consistently developed programs over the years allowing these folks the opportunitiesover the years allowing these folks the opportunities of love, joy, companionship, social skills, human rights and work skills with in-house jobs such as sewing, gardening and running a cafeteria.

• Often these skills will transfer over into jobs within the community.

Skills A TECO BuildingSkills A - TECO Building• Training, Education, g

Community Orientation (TECO)• For adults with greater disabilitiesg

• Learn basic life skills from brushing teeth to crossing streets

H li tHappy clients

B iBasics

H li tHappy clients

O f i d Gl dOur friend Gladys• Loves to sing, “Hey Good Lookin”

Skill B Skills B - Contracts Production Building

More advanced clientsMore advanced clients• Develop vocational skills and earn incomes

thru contracts with companiesthru contracts with companies• Skills and services include;

sorting, labeling, assembly, packaging, sewing, etc.g g y p g g g

Sewing skillsSewing skills

Pride in workmanshipPride in workmanship

Clients’ handiworkClients’ handiwork• Sold in local markets

V l bl k killValuable work skillsKristen’s quote, “The ‘sewing’ room is fantastic and many items are made here for resale Clients are taught valuable skills and seem verymade here for resale. Clients are taught valuable skills and seem very happy to have the opportunity to work.”

Ad d l iAdvanced learning

H l tHappy classmates

G h ' h ?!Guess who's here?!

Mik H i Mike Harris with brother Chris• A special moment for our Tour Team

Mike writes:Mike writes:“Having a brother with Down Syndrome who benefits daily from United yWay, giving him the opportunity to function in our society, gives me the motivation to give back to these organizations. Thanks to all who give in 2011 ”2011.”

Computer Lab entrance Computer Lab entrance & Greenhouse• Growing veggies to sell in the cafeteria• Growing veggies to sell in the cafeteria

Computer LabComputer Lab

Cafeteria / Snack ShopCafeteria / Snack Shop• Operated by 28 clients to learn cooking, currency,

inventory control etc and earn a paycheckinventory control, etc., and earn a paycheck

Clients maintain 7 5 acre groundsClients maintain 7.5 acre groundsKristen’s quote, “Clients spend many hours running the equipment necessary to maintain the gardens, grass and q p y g , gfoliage; they cut grass, pull weeds, fertilize, cut limbs and learn overall property maintenance.”

QMI T RQMI Team ResponsesTony Washington:Tony Washington:

I would like to say that I really enjoyed our visit to the Alliance for Independence Center today. My wife is employed by a similar organization called “Angels Unaware.” They operate several group homes for people with disabilities and they too p p yhave been hit by budget cuts. It really makes me feel good to know that anything that I give to United Way will go toward helping these kinds ofUnited Way will go toward helping these kinds of places and the people that they help.

QMI Team ResponsesQMI Team ResponsesEsmin Griffin:

Thanks for the opportunity to visit AFI. This is a life changing experience for me. It reminds me of the importance of giving to United Way; those peopleimportance of giving to United Way; those people need our help and support. The things we take for granted and sometime don’t stop to appreciate are th th t th h ll d i di id l h t bthe ones that these challenged individuals have to be learning day after day. For them, these are valuable life skills that will help them to succeed in life or on ptheir own. Let us rally to the cause, because this is a matter of the heart. Thanks again, this helps me to put things into prospectiveput things into prospective.

QMI Team ResponsesQMI Team ResponsesRachel Vandiver:

I think with the stress and complexity of our lives it becomes easy to take modern conveniences, such as driving a car or even using the microwave, for granted. A lot of the clients at AFI have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism that can prevent them from performing the easiest of tasksand autism, that can prevent them from performing the easiest of tasks. Without organizations such as AFI, these people would be left to fend for themselves. At AFI, disabled people can gain physical skills that they can use outside in the real world. A big thing I noticed at my time visiting the campus was the interpersonal relationships between the clients, as well as client-to-staff interaction. There, not only can they gain functionality, but also camaraderie and friendships. It is unfortunate that the government does not put more funding into these programs as not only does AFI help mentallyput more funding into these programs, as not only does AFI help mentally disabled people become well rounded, it also gives us non-disabled people a true appreciation of our own lives. While I think AFI is a great program, it clearly has room to grow, and that's why organizations such as the United W i Wi h h f di lik h ld hWay are so important. Without the funding, programs like these would have to close their doors and be unable to reach out to those in need. Programs like these give mentally disabled people a second chance at life.

QMI T RQMI Team ResponsesOwen Heatwole:

This third visit to AFI gripped even more deeply. Then editing the photos and preparing our presentation moved more closel into li es that itho t AFI o ld likelmore closely into lives that, without AFI, would likely spend days lonely and sad. But because of United Way’s support for AFI, their faces shine, content and surrounded by friends. And to quote AFI staff, “Without United Way funds, our doors would close!” United Way funds touched my life when theUnited Way funds touched my life when the Achievement Academy tested my wife’s grandson, exposed to meth in the womb, for developmental delays. “I’m In … Are You?”

Th N dThe Need• AFI hosts 100+ adults at a cost of $80 per client p

per day.• Government subsidy through Medicare is only

$26.72 per client per day.• “Without United Way funds, our doors would

close!”• 100 AFI clients, but:

• More than 900 adults with developmental disabilities in Polk County alone!

Let’s give to United Way!

Thank you!Thank you!Your QMI 2011 United Way CampaignYour QMI 2011 United Way Campaign

Committee:J if B i J B (Ch i )Jennifer Bonacio, Jenn Brown (Chair),

Bill Crowe, Esmin Griffin, Mike Harris, Owen Heatwole (Co Chair) Jenny HoughOwen Heatwole (Co-Chair), Jenny Hough,

Dave Mahoney, Kristen Moser, Ricky Moser, Mary Preston, Kent Scheper, Dan Shupsky, a y es o , e Sc epe , a S ups y,

Charles Tolentino