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July 2026 Newsletter
To empower, educate and connect people living without both hands or more
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Message from ESFL Executive Director
Hello Everyone!
Thanks to everyone who joined our annual Board of Directors Meeting on June 23rd! We were excited to share our accomplishments from the past year as well as our hopes for the future. More information about the ESFL 2026 Annual Report can be found below.
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ESFL's First Ever Professional Video!
It's hard to put into words how special it feels to see the story of Enhancing Skills for Life captured in a professional video. I'm deeply grateful to a dear friend whose kindness made this possible and to Vast Whisper Productions for their magic in putting this story together. If you've ever been curious about what ESFL does or the services we provide, I hope this video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our mission and the difference we're striving to make every day.
PLEASE SHARE with friends and family so the people who need this community, know we exist.
Meet Enhancing Skills for Life (YouTube)
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Support ESFL Year Round
ESFL is pleased to announce digital sponsorship opportunities! It's a meaningful way to support ESFL's mission and help sustain the life-changing programs, services, and connections we provide throughout the year and not just once every three years when the SFL workshops come around.
Digital Sponsorship Prospectus
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Please keep scrolling for all of the latest ESFL news and updates.
Warm Regards,
| | | ESFL News, Tips & Resources | |
Annual Board Of Directors Meeting 2026
Enhancing Skills for Life was originally founded to support the Skills for Life Workshops which are held every three years. It has since grown to include mulitple opportunities to connect in person, creation of several useful resources, and development of programs that help empower people to live their chosen lives.
This year's annual Board of Director's meeting was held on June 23 and was open to the public via Zoom. We recorded the meeting which can be watched through the link in this newsletter or under the resources seccion of our website. The report provided an overview of our three strategic direction objectives and how our accomlishments and hopes for the future fit into those objectives.
- Grow Valuable Services for the Community
- Improve Financial Health of the Organization
- Focus on the Sustainability of ESFL
Please take some time to wach or read through our ESFL 2026 Annual Report. We would love to hear from you!
ESFL 2026 Annual Report (PDF)
ESFL 2026 Annual Report (Video)
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Andy Mattox's 4th Annual
Rock N Bowl Fundraiser!
Location: Medina, Ohio
Schedule
Friday, Evening of September 11
- Dinner and a live performance at VFW Post 5137
Saturday, September 12
- Morning Location: To Be Determined
- Evening: Dinner and a live performance at VFW Post 5137
Sunday, September 13
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Doubles Bowling Tournament @ AMF Lanes in Medina, OH.
- Open bowl also available
See Andy's Website for scholarship info and more. Information is also included in the below events section.
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Support, Peer Connections, ADL Hotline
How to reach us for help, suggestions or request someone to get in touch
Did you know?
We offer peer support/connections in various forms. It might be an introduction by email ot text, a connection with an individual or group via zoom, or it could be an email with links to helpful resources. Maybe you are new to this community and don't know where to start? Or maybe you have been around awhile, but would like to more independent with certain self-care tasks like dressing, bathing, toileting or eating. Maybe you want to connect with other parents of limb different children?
You can contact us and we will get you connected with someone or maybe a group of people who are willing to help.
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United Airlines MileagePlus Miles on a Mission
Turn Airline Miles into Meaningful Connections!
Don't forget we are hoping to raise 1,000,000 miles in our United Airlines MileagePlus® Miles on a Mission campaign! At the time of this July newsletter, we have about 50 days remaining and still have roughly 650,000 miles to raise. Our hope is to support approximately 30 people travel to our ESFL events, including Skills for Life 8 in 2028! With just a minimum donation of 100 miles, you can support ESFL and our mission to ensure no one ever feels alone in their journey without both hands or more. More information can be found on the Miles on a Mission website.
Donate Today
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ESFL Amazon Storefont
Buy a Product, ESFL gets $$$
We have created an Enhancing Skills for Life Amazon Store that includes almost all of the items listed in our Hands Free catalog. Separated into similar categories, it definitely makes for an easier way to find the items you are looking for. There is also a search feature!
ESFL receives a commission, but the catch is that you MUST purchase the items through our ESFL Store. What an easy way to support a great cause!
BookMark the ESFL Amazon Store: https://a.co/d/079BxhY5
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Hands Free Catalog
What Items are we Missing?
Send us your ESFL Hands Free Catalog Ideas!
Use the below link to upload your gadgets and adaptive equipment. You will need to include the name of the item, a weblink or email address, one or more photos and a brief description.
Submit Equipment
Submit Pics Using Your Items
We would love to show some examples of our community using hands free resources. Share your success with hands free items by sending a photo and we can include it in the newsletter. If you want to create a video, let us know. Send photos or videos to mj.dillard@comcast.net
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ESFL YouTube Channel
As many of you probably know, on our ESFL website under resources you can also find You Tube: Tips and Topics to Explore. One video topic we would like to highlight thsi month is Growing Up Hands Free: From the perspective of parents of children who are living without both hands or all four limbs.
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Are you new to the Limb Difference/Amputee Community?
Let's talk energy.
When one first becomes an amputee, the experience usually has included a long stay in a hospital followed by physical therapy. This takes a lot of energy, both physically and emotionally.
How do we move forward if we expended all our energy just to get through the experience?
My occupational therapists used the analogy of having a certain number of spoons at the beginning of each day and for each task you perform, you give up a spoon. Your goal is to not run out of spoons before the end of the day. Budget your energy. Give yourself permission and time to recharge/rest, pick the most important tasks of the day and know you may not get to the rest.
This is still true for me four years out from my amputations. Additionally, I have found that there are good days and bad days and you can't predict when the bad days will happen or how long they will last.
I know that exercising, even if it is just moving or stretching, helps make certain tasks easier thus leaving me with more energy for the day.
If you have any suggestions for conserving energy or managing tasks, please share these and I can include them in the next newsletter. My email is mj.dillard@comast.net.
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MJ Dillard
Quad Amputee
Retired Engineer
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ESFL Skills Exchange Podcast
Join the Discussion!
Samoana Matagi spoke with Kevin, Evelyn and Cindy to hear about their experience at the National Ability Center. Make sure to give it a listen and PLEASE make sure to share in case the NAC trip might be a good fit for you or someone else.
For our next episode we will talk with Andy Mattox who will talk about hsi upcoming Rock & Bowl Fundraiser weekend.
If you have ideas for future episodes, email Samoana. Stay tuned to ESFL social media for the next episode to drop!
Make sure to watch on YouTube or listen in on Spotify.
| | | Upcoming Events & Programs | | | |
Camp NO LIMITS
Camps for children with limb loss/limb difference and their family members. 12 camps hosted in various locations throughout the US.
Website
Various
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Andy Mattox's 4th Rock and Bowl
Fundraiser
See website for scholarship application and details about the weekend.
Website
Medina, OH
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AOPA National Assembly
Education, Networking and an Exhiibit Hall for clinicians, business leaders and researchers.
Website
Las Vegas, NV
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Medical & Health Symposium
Join thousands of medical and legal professionals virtually from across Ohio and beyond for three days of learning, collaboration, and innovation. Together, we'll shape the future of occupational health, workers' compensation, and workplace injury prevention.
Website
Virtual (FREE)
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Hanger Empowerfest
For people with limb loss or limb difference, a place to discover teh power of shared experiences. Empowerfest provides opportunities to learn from healthcare professionals and peers.
Website
San Jose, CA
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Get Involved!
If you have ever considered getting involved with Enhancing Skills for Life, we would love to hear from you! If you have the time, interest or passion to support ESFL's mission, email us, let's talk! We have both paid positions and volunteer opportunities. We need help in the following areas:
- Fundraising/Development
- Board of Directors
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Change a Life, Donate Today
The Skills for Life workshop was developed in 2002 with a specific focus on people living without both hands or more and the unique set of circumstances they face on a daily basis. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to ensure we could continue supporting the members of our community with programs, events, resources, and connections. Please click the Venmo or PayPal donate buttons in this section to donate. PayPal allows you to donate via your account or with a credit card. Venmo requires you to have an account. Donations can also be made via check, payable to Enhancing Skills for Life, 16111 Park Center Dr, Houston, TX 77059.
Any and all donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated!
Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3 Tax ID: 81-2619137
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