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As the leaves change and the air grows crisper, it's that time of year again when we welcome the cozy comforts of fall. In this edition of The Special Times we're excited to bring you a cornucopia of exciting news, insightful stories, and valuable resources to keep you informed and inspired.
We hope you enjoy reading this fall edition of The Special Times. Stay involved, stay informed, and let's embrace the beauty of change together. With your help, we can continue to thrive to be the best nonprofit in the nation providing services to individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Thank you for embracing our mission and being a part of our community.
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CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT | |
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What a great event we had last week, and it was all thanks to you!
We hope you had a good time and enjoyed the activities, food, and conversation at Special Kids Special Families 12th Annual Night of Comedy - Boots, Buckles & Chuckles event. We not only met our goal, but we shattered our previous fundraising record and raised over $100,000 for Zach's Place program. The event was the highest attended and grossing event in SKSF's 25 year history! Thanks to our sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers for making this event a huge success!
WHAT AN AMAZING NIGHT!
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Clients utilized the free Metro rides this past month and instructed the teaching of riding the city bus. | Clients learned how mushrooms grow and the unique ways to compost in Joey's Place. |
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At Special Kids Special Families, we believe in the power of community, inclusivity, and support. That's why we are excited to share our "Building Connections" program for adults with developmental disabilities aimed at fostering meaningful relationships, personal growth, and a stronger sense of belonging for individuals of all abilities.
Our "Building Connections" program is designed to create a safe and welcoming space. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to:
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CONNECT: Build lasting friendships and social connections with peers who share similar experiences and interests.
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LEARN: Access valuable resources, workshops, and educational opportunities tailored to individual needs.
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GROW: Cultivate personal development, self-confidence, and independence through a supportive network.
We invite individuals with disabilities, their families, caregivers, and volunteers to join our "Building Connections" program. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community where everyone can thrive.
Do you have questions or want more information? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us and reply to this email or sksf@sksfcolorado.org. Let's build connections, share experiences, and grow together. Together, we can make a difference.
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 | Program Clients in our Building Connections program are learning Spanish. Visiting a Mexican market, speaking the language and interacting with community members are an important part of the class. | |
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PROVIDER NIGHT OUT
Adult Services hosted a Provider Night Out recently giving parents and caregivers a few hours of respite time. The theme was "Football with Four Quarters of Fun". We had two teams with captains, played games and had snack foods. We provide this special night out once a month. If interested - contact our Adult Services dept at 719-634-4675 or sksf@sksfcolorado.org.
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Attending community events connects and brings people together and helps inform those needing services of the valuable programs SKSF provides for individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. As part of our mission statement, "PROMOTING" has been certainly highlighted this month! SKSF staff have been committed to attending many community events this past month to help PROMOTE our organization. | |
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Above: SKSF Staff attending the D49/D20 Special Education Community Resource fair.
Below: SKSF attending Best of the West Wingfest.
| Above: SKSF Staff attended the Advancing Access & Equity in the Workplace for Individuals with Disabilities Resource Fair! We were honored to attend and met many folks to share our programs and benefits to the community! | |
SKSF Executive Director, Kevin Porter on stage at the Colorado Jerk Festival, supporting Jamaican music and tradition. Thanks to Eton Pearcy of Jamrock Events for donating partial proceeds to support SKSF programs! | |
Above: SKSF Staff attending the Pueblo Chili Festival with Colorado Foster Care promoting the need for foster parents in Colorado.
Below: Attended the All Abilities Carnival & Resource Fair at Colorado Early Colleges.
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Radio and news interviews offer a great platform to share our message to the Pikes Peak region. By engaging with the public, these opportunities help us build credibility, influence positive news pieces and raise awareness for our mission which in turn supports the individuals and families we serve. They are essential tools for communication, education, and connection in today's media-driven world. | |
Kevin Porter, SKSF Executive Director & Derek Wilson, Director of Development & Communications were at Mountain Country radio recently during the Morning Show featuring Johnny Joy, Caraigh and the Sports Guy. | SKSF was recently highlighted on FOX21 Morning News with Abbie Burke interviewing Derek Wilson (above). In addition, Kevin Porter was live on the set of FOX21 Loving Living Local. |
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Thanks Coverage by Maggy and FOX21 News for covering a great and heartfelt story! We appreciate the awareness you bring to the community about our Adult Clients collaborating with Love Your Neighbor volunteers. | | |
The donations we've received this past month are amazing! It touches our hearts to see the generosity of individuals that go above and beyond and believe in our mission to support families that truly need these items. | | |
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GenNext and The Gathering donated many car seats and boosters to our foster care program children. These are needed items as we transport children to their new homes.
Crescent Mortgage Company donated several "care bags" to children in our foster care program. Transitioning is hard enough for a kiddo moving into foster care and these bags will give them some comfort on their journey. Thanks again for your support - you've made a difference!
In addition, we'd like the thank the following grantors and foundations that have recently donated to help support Zach's Place center:
- Monument Hill Foundation
- Lexis Nexis Cares Board
- El Pomar Foundation
| Would you like to donate to our programs? It’s easy when you visit our Amazon Wish List page | |
We'd like to welcome our newest team member - Dennis "Dee" Nyamieh Walker, PhD as our Director of People and Policies. Dee brings over 15 years of experience in both non-profit and for-profit administrative leadership to SKSF. As an experienced educator and HR professional, Dee’s passion lies in fostering the growth and development of individuals while crafting and implementing effective policies and processes. He strives on making positive impact through his work in leadership, and organizational development. He is a football (some call it soccer) enthusiast. We welcome Dee to the SKSF family! | |
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Check out our job openings
Great pay, great benefits, great people!
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Help us spread the word and SHARE this newsletter on your social media pages. Thank you for your support in helping us spread our mission within the community! | | | | |
