June 2021
OP Gala - You Made it Great!
Our first-ever virtual Gala on May 13 was a huge success, raising $365,260! The virtual event drew 427 registrants, with people logging in from all over. Shown in photo - Stacie Dziedzic, KARE 11's Belinda Jensen, and Michelle Alvord - who helped make the Gala amazing! Thank you to everyone who watched the event live, shared the event with your friends and made donations - you made a difference! If you missed the 30-minute event but would like to view it, check it out here.
A Place of His Own, Thanks to You!
For Kevin, 32, living in his own apartment finally became reality with help from Opportunity Partners. "He has settled in so quickly there; it has been such an easy transition," said Kevin's mom Mary. Kevin resides at OP's hoMEbase apartments, with locations in Coon Rapids, Hopkins and Minnetonka. He enjoys keeping his apartment tidy, caring for his cat, Lacey, and taking part in activities. "I am glad to be a part of this program and cannot wait to do a lot of fun things together," he said. Read more about Kevin's success.
Smooth Transition from CCP
Individuals formerly served by CCP are integrating smoothly into Opportunity Partners’ services, thanks to dedication from staff and patience as we’ve worked through the challenges of the pandemic. OP assumed operations of CCP in 2020, after the provider closed.

Kim Bright, who worked for CCP 20 years before joining Karlins Center as Assistant Manager, said 13 people served from CCP are now attending Karlins. “They’ve done very well,” she said. “Everyone’s happy to be back in a day program.” Kim said the individuals adjusted well to wearing facial coverings and social distancing, and she credits the long-time Karlins staff for helping everything go smoothly. “Staff have done a great job interacting and helping everyone feel welcome,” she said.

Individuals formerly served by CCP are also being served by OP’s Vocational Services in community employment. 
Tribute for 30 Years of Success
For the Carr family, Opportunity Partners became a place of pride and success for Ted, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 50. Ted was served by OP for nearly 30 years. His family recently left a generous estate gift to OP in Ted's memory.

"My parents, Conrad and Penny, wanted to continue the legacy of Opportunity Partners, because we know how much it meant to Ted," said Ted's sister Colleen Zilley. "It was a huge part of his life. We want to share that with others with special needs." She said Ted enjoyed working and attending classes at OP. He also loved sports and music, taking part in track and field in Special Olympics and playing guitar, piano and organ.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Carr family for their generous gift! It was an honor to serve Ted! To read Ted's story, see our current newsletter article. To learn more about estate planning, contact Kate Wilinski.