September 21st was a spectacular night for Wendell Foster: our Difference Makers raised a record-breaking total of $228,667 at the Forever a Difference Maker Gala & Auction, presented by Boardwalk Pipelines! We are overwhelmed by the support of our generous community, and we couldn't have done it without our attendees, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters. Because of our Difference Makers, we made history for Wendell Foster!

We loved every moment of this night: our fun silent auction, the exciting live auction with props from Wendell Foster's Aktion Club, hearing the impactful testimonies of the Clary and Grant families, and seeing our community unite towards one cause during our Special Appeal, just to name a few! Emcees Ron Rhodes and Jake Boswell, along with Auctioneer John Kurtz, brought the energy and made this an unforgettable evening full of fun, surprises, and giving. Because of our Difference Makers, we made history for Wendell Foster! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! 💙

Relive the memories of this amazing night with photos from our friends at Wonder Boy Media. When posting your photos, be sure to tag Wendell Foster and use the hashtag #WFGala24!

At last year's Gala & Auction, we awarded our Inaugural Difference Maker Award to honor a Difference Maker who has positively impacted Wendell Foster. This year, we had two Difference Makers receive this award, Kentucky State Senator Gary Boswell and Representative Suzanne Miles.

Senator Boswell and Representative Miles played an integral role in securing a one-time appropriation of $450,000 from the Kentucky General Assembly through House Bill 1 to construct Wendell Foster's new Aquatic Therapy Center.

Representative Miles was unable to attend the Gala & Auction, but took the time to stop by our campus for Jeffery, Gary, and John to present her the award. Gala attendees loved this sweet video, and as always, Gary knew how to get some laughs from the crowd!

Thank you to both of our Difference Makers of the Year, Senator Boswell and Representative Miles, for their lasting contributions to Wendell Foster!

Thank you to our vendors for making this event possible:

🌟 Owensboro Convention Center

🌟 Welborn's Floral & Event

🌟 DJ Doc Harris

🌟 Wonder Boy Media

🌟 The Event Kode

🌟 Greenwell Chisholm

🌟 Something Borrowed

September is Employee Recognition Month at Wendell Foster! Although we aim to recognize our team of Difference Makers every single day, September is a great opportunity to give some extra love and care to our dedicated staff. Our Rewards & Recognition Committee planned Employee Recognition events every week for the entire month of September. We slurped down smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Café, feasted on a potato and salad bar for lunch, snacked on a variety of treats on Snack Day, and had a morning pick-me-up with Chick-fil-A and coffee for breakfast. This is a small token of appreciation for the acts of service shown by our staff every single day. You are making a true difference in the lives of those we serve, and we are so thankful for you!

Pictured: Wendell Foster being presented with the Free Chick-fil-A for a Year opportunity by Owensboro Chick-fil-A Operator Mark Whiteman, with help from the Chick-fil-A cow.

To celebrate the grand opening of Chick-fil-A's new location on Highway 54, Chick-fil-A approached Wendell Foster with a unique idea to show appreciation for our employees: offering Chick-fil-A for a year to 44 of Wendell Foster employees! Chick-fil-A presented Wendell Foster with complimentary gift cards offering a free sandwich each week for a year at either Chick-fil-A location in Owensboro. To determine which 44 employees would receive Chick-fil-A for a year, we decided to have some fun with a drawing. Each employee's name was placed in the drawing with CEO Doug Hoyt drawing the winners. We loved this fun addition to Employee Recognition Month, thanks to the generosity of our Owensboro Chick-fil-A. We will certainly keep "eating mor chiken!"

Congratulations to these Difference Makers who won Free Chick-fil-A for a Year!

Pictured: (1) Josh painting the Little Free Library. (2) Josh helping Wendell Foster Maintenance Team Member Ronnie install the Little Free Library. (3) Josh, his OT Team, and Ronnie posing with the finished product!

This Spring, a heartwarming project blossomed at Wendell Foster, thanks to the collaboration between resident Josh Taylor and his Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, Emily Reusch. Together, they created a "Little Free Library" in the Sensory Park, a charming initiative that aims to expand access to books in the Owensboro area.

The concept of Little Free Libraries began in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a mission to promote book sharing worldwide. These whimsically decorated structures invite community members to take or leave books at no cost. Emily, who always had a passion for reading, was inspired to develop this project while setting her goals for the year. She recognized the need for greater book access in Owensboro and found the perfect solution in the Little Free Library model.

Immediately, Josh came to mind as the ideal partner for this project. With his strong desire to help others, he was eager to get involved. Emily said Josh practiced several valuable occupational therapy skills throughout the design and building process. From researching different library designs to selecting paint colors and sequencing the construction steps, Josh's abilities shone through. The project not only fostered creativity but also promoted active range of motion as they painted the library together.

Their journey began in April with weekly sessions dedicated to bringing their vision to life. Over time, the project transformed from an idea into a tangible space for book sharing. "Seeing the final product was incredibly rewarding," Emily shared. For Josh, the library holds personal significance. His favorite book to read is the Bible, and he is excited to keep the library stocked with a variety of books to ensure our community has access to diverse reading materials.

Emily expressed her fulfillment in expanding book access in Owensboro and emphasized the thoughtful placement and height of the little library so all can access it. "It feels great to bring more books to our campus and the community," she said.

As Josh and Emily continue to nurture this project, they invite everyone to visit the Little Free Library, take a book, and leave one behind! It’s not just a library; it’s a shared love for reading, a commitment to community, and a testament to the impact that collaboration can have.

With September being Employee Recognition Month, Wendell Foster residents wanted to recognize the hard work of our amazing team of Difference Makers! They paired up with volunteers from the Owensboro Catholic Crusaders to make thank you cards for our staff. Staff were given these cards during the Chick-fil-A breakfast and coffee bar on September 24th. This was such a touching and heart-warming way to show support for our staff! Thank you to our residents and the Crusaders for teaming up on this special project.

Pictured: The many cards crafted by residents and the Crusaders to show love and appreciation to our staff in honor of Employee Recognition Month.

On September 19th, we had another group volunteer their time on our campus: the Kentucky Wesleyan Baseball Team! They were on hand to load auction items for the Forever a Difference Maker Gala & Auction. With almost 200 auction items of various shapes, sizes, and weight to load onto the trailer, their help was greatly appreciated! The morning of the Gala, we had an awesome team from Southern Star to help us unload all of the items and move into the Owensboro Convention Center for the event.

We are so thankful for all of our volunteers who lent a helpful hand in this busy month of September! 💙

Wendell Foster's Special Needs Expo is BACK on October 19th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Owensboro Convention Center! The Expo is an opportunity for non-profit organizations, state agencies, and private businesses that serve people with disabilities to provide information about resources to assist families in supporting a loved one with a disability. Vendors featured at the Expo provide support in the following areas: Advocacy and Support, Assistive Technology, Autism Services, Behavior Supports, Day Programs, Durable Medical Equipment, Early Childhood, Education, Employment, Future Planning, Health & Rehab, Recreation, Residential Services, and Waivers.

Wendell Foster's Special Needs Expo

October 19th, 11 am to 3 pm

Free Admission & Door Prizes!

New to the 2024 Expo...The Fun Zone!

The Fun Zone is the ultimate spot for fun at the Special Needs Expo! Don't miss out on basketball, hockey, mini golf, arts & crafts, and more!

For more information on the Special Needs Expo, please contact Cindy Huston at (270) 852-1488 or chuston@wendellfoster.org.

We've been getting into the spirit of fall for the month of September! 🧡

1. KWC's Baseball Team traded bats for blasters in an ultimate Nerf war in the Sensory Park!

2.Phoebe relaxed in a hammock during a trip to Santa's Cottages in Santa Claus, IN.

3. Team work makes the dream work! Charity and Greta had a blast bowling some strikes.

4. Residents spread the fall vibes in our community by making this scarecrow to be displayed at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. 

5. Hello pumpkin! Rachel and Angela took a trip to Trunnell's Farm Market.

6. Residents sailed away with our Recreation Team on a cruise to the Bahamas.

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.