Wendell Foster staff and residents had so much fun at our annual First Responders BBQ on July 20th. Check out all of those smiles! 😄 Residents enjoyed lunch with Owensboro and Daviess County first responders, played games, and had great conversations. We are so grateful for our local first responders and are happy to offer this token of appreciation. It is always great to spend the day thanking our local heroes, and we love having them visit Wendell Foster's campus.

This year’s BBQ was our biggest and best yet! We had over 40 volunteers and fed nearly 300 people. It was an absolute blast to see the community come together and make this day so special. We are so grateful for all the support we received and look forward to the continued growth of this event. ❤️

Our partnership with Chamber Young Professionals (CYP) was a wonderful addition to this year’s event. Several CYP members were able to volunteer and spend time with residents and first responders. Aktion Club members were able to pair up with CYP members to learn about each other’s group while volunteering. It was great to see a relationship form between these two service clubs. We think there will be more collaborations to come and can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thank you to our hometown heroes for all you do to serve our community! You are #WFDifferenceMakers! 👮🚑👨‍🚒

Thank you to all who made this day possible!

Meat Donation & Grilling Team: Atmos Energy 🔥

Hotdogs & Buns: Field Meats, Flowers Baking Co. 🌭

Ice Cream: Old Fashioned Ice Cream & Concessions 🍦

Photo Booth: Something Borrowed Owensboro 📸

Tent Rental: Bakos Party Rentals 🎪

Volunteers: Chamber Young Professionals, Independence Bank, Kiwanis Club of Owensboro 😄

Tickets are on sale now for Wendell Foster's most elegant night of the year! Wendell Foster's annual Forever a Difference Maker Gala & Auction, presented by Southern Star, is back on September 30th at the Owensboro Convention Center! The night's events include a live and silent auction, dinner and complimentary drinks, entertainment, and more! Emcee Chad Benefield of WBKR 92.5- The Country Station! and auctioneer Clay Taylor of Kurtz Auction & Realty will bring even more excitement and energy to an already spectacular evening. Join us as we honor the Difference Makers who help fulfill our mission of empowering people with disabilities!

Auction items include rare bourbon, curated travel experiences, sports memorabilia, and tickets to popular attractions.

Tickets are $75 per person, $150 per couple, and $500 for a table of eight. This popular event is sure to sell out, so don't wait to purchase your tickets! Stay tuned as we continue adding auction items to the Gala website leading up to the event!✨

Thank you to the Henderson County Fair Pageant for celebrating people of all abilities through your pageant! 💙

Wendell Foster's Day Training program went on a tour of the world at their Multi-Cultural Day earlier this month! 🌎 Participants learned about Thailand, Ireland, and South Africa. They really enjoyed making jewelry and sampling food from each country! 😋 Jonathan Hawthorne, Wendell Foster's Director of Community Supports, said the inspiration behind the Multi-Cultural Day was to teach participants the value of other cultures. "Being different and unique should be celebrated, and we wanted to show our folks that the world they are a part of is different and unique as well!" explained Hawthorne. What a fantastic, interactive way to learn and explore new cultures!

Day Training participants visited each station to learn about the country's food, culture, and even wildlife!

Occasionally in life, we all get the chance to experience the power of a small act of kindness. Mary, a resident at Wendell Foster, witnessed firsthand how a simple act of kindness can change your day for the better! 💙

Mary volunteers each Wednesday afternoon at Dream Riders of Kentucky, Inc. One of Mary's goals is to be involved in the community and volunteer regularly. At Dream Riders, she greets visitors, riders, and other volunteers as they walk through the door and informs them of their next steps. During one volunteer session this month, Mary mentioned how she was unable to drink her favorite tea because it was sold out everywhere. Mary drinks a specific brand and type of tea every day, and not having it dampened her spirits. Mike, a fellow volunteer, immediately offered to buy her tea and left Dream Riders to get it! He found it at the only store in town that had it in stock. The smile on Mary's face when Mike came back with her tea was priceless. Mary most definitely has a special new friend in Mike!

Thank you to Mary's Person-Centered Specialist, Jodi, for her dedication to organizing volunteer opportunities for Mary. If you see Mary and Jodi out and about in the community, be sure to say hello! 👋

We are loving all the Yes! Moments happening around Wendell Foster the last few months!

Meet Jasper, an Occupational Therapy client with Congenital Mirroring Syndrome… a one-in-a-million diagnosis! Congenital Mirroring Syndrome causes involuntary movements on one side of the body that mirror intentional movements on the opposite side of the body. In Jasper’s case, it affects his hands.

In this video, Julie Best, Jasper's Occupational Therapist, shares all about Jasper’s growth since coming to Wendell Foster. He can now use scissors, get dressed by himself, play tee ball, and do all sorts of other things he struggled with before! Great job, Jasper! 😀

(1) Charity enjoying the cars at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.

(2) Branden, Gary, and Steven cooling off and catching rays at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.

(3) Branden and Charlie having a guys' night watching the Legacy Fighting Alliance at the Owensboro Sportscenter.

(4) Residents spent the day with D's Door Art, creating the perfect bright sunflower door hangers!

(5) Megan showing off her Fourth of July spirit! She loves some tie-dye!

(6) Residents and our Recreation Department teamed up for a bake sale to support the annual Christmas Fund!