Happy Holidays!

As 2024 comes to an end, I am reminded just how thankful I am for all of the Wendell Foster Difference Makers! A Difference Maker is an employee, board member, donor, or anyone who supports Wendell Foster- and 2024 was full of Difference Makers.

For me, one of our proudest accomplishments was successfully raising the money needed to build our new Aquatic Therapy Center. With the help of so many generous people, including the Kentucky General Assembly, this incredible project is now underway and will positively impact so many. As far as memories, it is hard to overlook the generosity of hundreds of people who helped us shatter fundraising records at the 2024 Forever a Difference Maker Gala and Auction. It is only through the generosity and hard work of so many that helped us fund these initiatives and achieve so many more as we continue to empower people with disabilities.

Continue reading this newsletter for more of our best moments in 2024! Thank you for being a Wendell Foster Difference Maker!

Pictured: (Left) Day Services clients and (Right) Supports for Community Living clients are pictured with their new kitchen tools, funded by the Women's Guild of Owensboro.

Participants in Day Services and Supports for Community Living (SCL) were treated to an early Christmas surprise: kitchen tools for their cooking programs! Thanks to generous funding from the Women's Guild of Owensboro, we were able to purchase air fryers, food processors, baking pans, a mixer, a crockpot, pots and pans, and measuring cups. Care recipients will use these kitchen tools to learn how to make different meals and cook independently.

Everyone was so excited when the items were delivered, and the boxes filled the Elmer Administration Lobby. Program participants can't wait to start cooking, and said they plan to prepare pizza as their first meal with the new tools! We'd like to send our heartfelt thanks to the Women's Guild of Owensboro for helping our clients build confidence in their daily living skills. You are Difference Makers!

Violet Tromly, age six, experienced something truly special this Christmas season. Due to her autism diagnosis, Violet was nonverbal—until a little over a year ago when she began speech therapy with Kristy Hampton at Wendell Foster. After attending our annual "Close-Ups with the Clauses" event last year, Violet was unable to communicate with Santa, but that moment sparked a journey of growth.

Through hard work and the support of her family and Kristy, Violet now uses a communication device to express herself, putting together 3-4 word phrases. This holiday season, she asked Santa to take off his glove so he could press the icons on her device, allowing her to have a full conversation with him for the first time.

Violet's progress is a beautiful reminder of the power of therapy and determination. We’re so proud of her achievements and can’t wait to see what’s next for Violet!

Our days have been merry and bright here at Wendell Foster! We've had a holly, jolly time decorating cookies, rocking our ugly Christmas sweaters, and having some mischievous Yuletide fun (check out the last picture: Zach gift-wrapped a staff member's office)! Our departments went head-to-head in a gingerbread house contest, with the Community Engagement Department prevailing. Their Coastal Cottages were showstoppers!

Most importantly, we gave back to others this holiday season. Members of Wendell Foster's Aktion Club served the community by ringing the bells for the Salvation Army. Thanks to countless individuals who took ornaments from our Angel Tree, we brought joy to over 170 care recipients and children. It has truly been the most wonderful time of the year at WF!

From all of us, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄

Pictured: (Left) Bryant posing with Cottage C's gingerbread house for the gingerbread contest. It was his idea to create an Australian beach scene, complete with koalas and kangaroos made of fondant! (Right) The ultimate champion of the gingerbread competition! Congratulations, Community Engagement Department, for your attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Way Back When at Wendell Foster is a series featuring fun photos from the past that highlight our rich history of empowering people with disabilities for over 75 years! We hope you enjoy these snapshots and learn something new about Wendell Foster!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there!

On a cold winter's night in 1947, children at the Spastic's Home and School (now known as Wendell Foster) waited with bated breath for the appearance of St. Nicholas. It was the first Christmas for the Home and School; would Santa know to stop there? Suddenly, as they all waited around the Christmas tree, there arose such a clatter...

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer!

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

Santa was here! In his magical sack, he had toys for all the little boys and girls at the Home and School. He brought dolls, a rocking horse, and even a sled! Joy filled the room as everyone opened their gifts, including Wendell Foster and his daughter Louise (pictured on the right near the fireplace). But Santa couldn't stay long; he still had many deliveries to make across the world. So those at the Home and School bid him farewell, with Santa leaving a final, parting message...

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Is getting fit one of your New Year's Resolutions? What better way to get started than training for the Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K! We've made it easy by providing a training plan and training runs each Saturday at Legends leading up to the race on March 22nd, 2025.

What makes our training runs special? You'll be training with the pacers who will help you cross the finish line on race day. All paces are welcome, so whether it's your first race or your 100th race, we want to see you there. Each training run begins with a warm-up led by the experts at Rehabilitation & Performance Institute (RPI). Best of all, you'll be joining a supportive group of other runners who want to see you succeed. If all of this isn't motivating enough, we even have fun giveaways at each training run, like gift cards, shoes, and much more!

We hope you'll lace up your running shoes and join us on Saturday, January 4th at Legends for our first training run of the year! Doors open at 6:30 am with the warm-up beginning at 7:00 am.

1. We had a furry addition in 2024: chicks raised by our Farming and Homesteading Class!

2. Wendell Foster sponsored the March 2024 Rooster Booster Breakfast, which featured guest speaker Russ Hoyt of The Hoyt Foundation. Russ inspired over 300 community members with the story of his father and brother, one of the first duo teams in marathon racing.

3. Participants in the first-ever Steps Division of the Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K completed their journeys by crossing the finish line on March 23rd, 2024.

4. Wendell Foster residents and staff came out in full force to view the 2024 solar eclipse...with glasses on, of course!

5. Josh enjoyed his weekly visits to the animal shelter this year. His favorite activities included walking the dogs and feeding them peanut butter on frisbees. Our awesome community even donated peanut butter for Josh to take to the shelter!

6. At this year's First Responders BBQ, Wendell Foster residents and Chamber Young Professionals members were paired as BBQ Buddies. Jeffery and Sydney became fast friends!

7. Residents joined in on an evening of elegance and excitement at the Forever a Difference Maker Gala & Auction on September 21st, 2024.

8. We ended the year strong by seeing Wicked in theaters! These smiles were contagious- over 500 people liked this photo on Facebook!

Thank you to all our Wendell Foster Difference Makers who made this year our best year yet! We'll see you in 2025!

About Wendell Foster

For over 75 years, our focus has been to provide children and adults with disabilities with the tools, education, therapies, and support to reach their dreams and potential.

As a leader in serving those with disabilities, we provide more than 65,000 services annually through multiple programs.

Copyright © 2024 Wendell Foster, All rights reserved.