News You Can Use
January - March 2022
News You Can Use is The Arc of Aurora's quarterly e-newsletter covering what’s new in public policy, events, resources, and happenings at The Arc of Aurora. To get daily updates on resources, disability policy information, and community happenings, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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A message from us to you
Out with the old and in with the new
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You may remember that prior to the pandemic, we were planning on buying a new building. But, amid COVID19, our priorities have shifted, and we have decided to stay where we are at! With that said, we ask you to pardon our dust because we are going to refresh our building to make the space work for us!
So what does that mean for YOU now? Nothing. We will still get your mail and are not open to visitors due to the pandemic.
So what does that mean for YOU in the future?
When we are able to open back up to visitors we are going to have an awesome Re-fresh Open House!
Stay tuned for future updates!
The Arc of Aurora Team
720-213-1420
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Top left to top right: Anna Cafaro, Individual Advocate; Erica Dennison, Special Projects' and THINK+change Manager; Jeff Fernengel, Individual Advocate. Middle left to middle right: Petri Brill, Individual Advocate; Tom Walsh, Individual Advocate; Hanni Raley, Assistant Executive Director. Bottom middle: Darla Stuart, Executive Director.
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Annual Scholarship Applications
Apply now through Monday, February 28th
It's scholarship application time, and The Arc of Aurora offers two different scholarships to qualified Arc of Aurora Contributing Members.
Click on the links below to read the eligibility requirements and to apply for a scholarship.
Applicants MUST be a 2021/2022 Contributing Member (paid $30 or volunteered for Membership) and meet specific criteria which are outlined in the application. Deadlines listed on the applications are strictly followed. If you need assistance completing an application or need a printed application mailed to you, contact your Arc of Aurora advocate or Erica Dennison at 720-213-1420 or Edennison@thearcofaurora.org.
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Developmental Disability (DD) Awareness Month
Monday, March 1st - Wednesday, March 31st
March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Here are some creative ways to celebrate!
1. Host via your organization or family and friends a film festival and watch mini-documentary series about people with developmental disabilities via our THINK+change TALKS.
2. Donate to a nonprofit organization that serves and supports individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
3. Learn about developmental disabilities via our training and education program, THINK+change.
5. Post a picture or video on social media and share your success story and how The Arc of Aurora helped you reach your goals. Use the hashtag #DDAwareness22 and don't forget to tag us!
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ReFUND CO
Now through Friday, April 15th
ReFUND CO enables taxpayers to donate any portion of their Colorado state income tax refund to any eligible nonprofit. Consider donating a portion of your tax refund to The Arc of Aurora! Add The Arc of Aurora's name, our registration number: #20023003597, and the amount you would like to donate to the line on your tax return titled "Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund."
Note: Individual taxpayer information is confidential, and the Department of Revenue cannot share the names of taxpayers to nonprofits under current law. Therefore, The Arc of Aurora will not know who donors are. We would love for you to tell us you donated -- by contacting Erica Dennison at The Arc of Aurora -- so we can thank you!
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Sunday Get Together Bowling League
Every Sunday now through May 2022 starting at 12:45 am
Looking to make friends or connect with other individuals and families in Aurora? Then join our Sunday Get Together Bowling League! If you are over 16 years old and vaccinated against COVID-19, then you can join The Arc of Aurora's Sunday Get Together Bowling League! Everyone of every ability is welcome to join. Caregivers/families can also attend to provide support to those that bowl if they cannot be left alone.
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Location: AMF Aurora Lanes, 16700 E. Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, CO 80017
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When: Every Sunday until May 2022
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Time: Bowling starts at 12:45 pm for practice. The games start at 1:00 pm.
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Cost: $10 each week for three games and shoes.
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Safety: Supervision is not provided (if you need support please arrange for that separate from the league before attending) AND you need to provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccination before attending.
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Questions or want to sign up? Contact our volunteer, Dottie, for more information and to get set up as a participant at 303-337-5540 or at dottiek2@juno.com.
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Become a 2021/2022 Member of The Arc of Aurora
Any and all the time
The Arc of Aurora is a private not-for-profit organization, that has dedicated its mission to supporting and advocating for and on behalf of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families since 1975. We are a membership association that offers different membership levels for every budget (even a free membership) and also provides these benefits to our members.
Did you know? Contributing Members are eligible to apply for annual scholarships offered by The Arc of Aurora, receive a 15% discount card usable at any arc Thrift Store, and more?!
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Hang out with us on our social sites everyday! |
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THINK+change
Training and education
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Did you know all of the educational products we produce via our THINK+change program are inspired through our direct advocacy work and lived experience of those we personally work with at The Arc of Aurora?
This quarter we offer you:
Storytelling/mini-documentary TALKS series
Online TRAININGS course
Podcast/vodcast TRAININGS series
Tangible TOOLS
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Policy Profile
2022 Legislative Session
-Submitted by Hanni Raley, Assistant Executive Director
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Just like that, the Legislative session is here! Colorado’s seventy-third General Assembly session convened on January 12, 2022, and is scheduled to adjourn on May 11, 2022.
This session is guaranteed to be jam-packed with efforts to improve the lives of Coloradans, including Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As always, the best way to impact your government is to be a part of it by following the bills introduced and sharing your stories. Do you need help learning how to share your story with elected officials? Consider enrolling in our free THINK+change course, The Power of a Collective Voice, where we teach you how!
If you have any questions or ideas about how your government can work better for you, we are always available to talk! Reach out to Hanni Raley at 720-213-1420 or hraley@thearcofaurora.org.
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How You Can Help
2022 Annual Online Auction in May
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The Arc of Aurora's Fifth Annual Online Auction will be in May 2022 and we need your help in obtaining auction items! Below are some ideas, but we are open to your suggestions and appreciate all donations!
- Wine and spirits
- Date night packages
- Handmade items
- Books
- Arts and crafts
- Gift Baskets
- Spa services
- Fitness training
- Gift cards
- Photography session
- Electronics and tech
- Signed memorabilia
- Classes/Lessons
- Skiing and snowboarding adventures
Do you have something in mind that you would like to donate or have a community connection that could donate to our cause? Contact Erica at the office by April 1, 2022!
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Spotlight On
Holiday Season Donors
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Wow, wow, wow! Even though the holidays are over, we are still reminiscing over our incredible donors! We thank every one of you who donated to support the below.
Holiday and Thanksgiving Projects
The need was great last year and The Arc of Aurora's 2021 Thanksgiving Project and Holiday Gift Giving Project provided help to over 200 Members of The Arc of Aurora. Can you believe it?! THANK YOU to all who donated so that we could provide gift cards to those with IDD and their families during the holidays so they could purchase Thanksgiving food and holiday gifts!
Colorado Gives Day
We raised over $6,200 on Colorado Gives Day! Thank you to all of you that took part and gave your year-end gift as part of our eighth Colorado Gives Day campaign on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. It was our second most successful Colorado Gives Day to date!
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Community Mention Corner
Colorado Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Work Group
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This quarter, we met with Marilyn Fausset, Volunteer Co-chair of the Colorado Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Work Group. Learn about how this community resource helps people with FASD, their families, and how they can connect you with resources to get diagnosed.
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You can donate to The Arc of Aurora anytime by clicking here! We appreciate your donation to help support individuals with IDDs.
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Thanks to our fans, we won a Top-Rated Award two years in a row! Read stories about us and add your own here!
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Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases via Amazon to The Arc of Aurora when you set up your settings here.
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There is a community resource list on our website if you need help, to locate testing, vaccine info, and more.
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Have questions about anything in this newsletter? Contact Erica Dennison.
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