AWS Foundation Awards Grants for Socialization and Recreation Programs Benefiting Individuals with Disabilities

Fort Wayne, IN -- Grants supporting therapeutic and accessible

playgrounds, adaptive sports and performance arts totaling $173,000 have been awarded by the AWS Foundation to the following organizations:

Easter Seals ARC -- $25,000 for year round community recreation program, including a new visual arts program, for 500 adults with intellectual disabilities.

Fort Wayne Civic Theatre -- $5,000 for In the Wings arts-in-education program designated for individuals with special needs.

Fort Wayne Dance Collective -- $25,000 for creative movement classes for people with mental, physical and emotional disabilities.

Fort Wayne Park Foundation -- $25,000 for the Boundless Playground at Kreager Park.

Holland Elementary School -- $24,932.74 for the Theraplay Playground for pre-kindergarten thru fifth grade special needs students.

University of Saint Francis -- $25,000 for the Jesters program and implementation of a strategic plan to identify educational needs and opportunities for Jesters members, establish a public relations program and develop ongoing financial support.

Passages -- $3,369 for transportation and program supplies for the summer enrichment program for middle and high school students with intellectual disabilities.

Turnstone -- $25,000 for operations and to expand the sports and recreation program for individuals with physical disabilities.

Wellspring -- $15,000 for the Older Adult program for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

About the Foundation

The AWS Foundation supports organizations and programs that benefit people with disabilities and their families.  The Foundation’s mission is to help children and adults with enduring intellectual and physical disabilities live as independently as possible, be included in the community and function at their highest potential.

AWS Foundation Awards Grants for Information and Education Programs Benefiting Individuals with Disabilities

Fort Wayne, IN – Grants supporting health education, educational skills development, job skills training and community awareness about disability were awarded by the AWS Foundation to the following organizations:

AWS Industrial Operations Workshop  $25,000

Learn and Earn job skill development and training for Fort Wayne Community Schools special education high school students.

Children’s Autism Center  $20,000

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy program and student scholarships.

Fort Wayne Center for Learning   $25,000

Scholarships for students diagnosed with a developmental disability requiring remedial instruction.

McMillen Center for Health Education   $25,000

Health education curriculum and training for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Mental Health Association   $25,000

Kids on the Block presentations to 3^rd graders about acceptance of individuals with learning and physical disabilities.

Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative   $25,000

Early intervention curriculum and therapies for alternative education for emotionally disabled students.

About the Foundation

The AWS Foundation supports organizations and programs that benefit people with disabilities and their families.  The Foundation’s mission is to help children and adults with disabilities live as independently as possible, be included in society and function at their maximum potential.

###

AWS Foundation Sponsors 2nd Annual TinCaps Game

Fort Wayne, IN – The TinCaps day game on Wednesday, July 28 will be enjoyed by 650 individuals with disabilities and their personal assistants thanks to the generosity of the AWS Foundation.  This is the second year the Foundation has hosted a day game.

“The accessibility of Parkview Field for individuals with disabilities is phenomenal.  We will have nearly 90 individuals in wheelchairs at the game,” said Lynne Gilmore, AWS Foundation executive director.  Clients attending the game are from area service providers, including AWS, Easter Seals ARC, Down Syndrome Association of Indiana, League for the Blind and Disabled, Passages, Pathfinder Services and Turnstone.

The first pitch will be thrown by an AWS client, Travis, who has participated in Special Olympics basketball and track and field, and has been practicing his pitching technique for this special opportunity.

Having just commemorated the 20^th anniversary on July 26 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, attending a baseball game – the great American past time – epitomizes the equality and accessibility afforded by the ADA. 

About the Foundation

The AWS Foundation supports organizations and programs that benefit individuals with disabilities.  Our mission is to help children and adults with disabilities live as independently as possible, be included in society and function at their maximum potential.

###

Capacity Building Workshop for Not-for-Profits

Friday ⋅ May 21, 2010
University of Saint Francis
North Campus Gym

8:15 a.m. Registration/Breakfast
9 a.m. ⋅ 2 p.m. Workshop

Learn the keys to organizational sustainability through core competency identification. Dr. Rita Padmore, dean of the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and AWS Foundation board member, will lead this hands-on workshop designed to help strengthen a not-for-profit’s mission and bottom line.  Recommended for CEOs and senior managers.  

Seating is limited to 100 participants!  RSVP by Friday, May 7
to Cris Palmer at cpalmer@awsusa.com

Sponsored by the AWS Foundation in collaboration with the
University of Saint Francis Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Abilities Abound—Realizing Potential—celebrating the lives of people with disabilities.

This special event takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 9 at the Holiday Inn/Coliseum. The keynote speaker is Emily Perl Kingsley, Emmy award-winning writer for Sesame Street, whose adult son has Down syndrome. Admission is $10 per person and your paid reservation can be made through Fifth Freedom by calling 428.8789 or emailing Betty@fifthfreedom.org.
 
Likely to be the most anticipated part of the evening is the announcement of the winners of the competitive Embolden Enrichment Grants.  Three $1,000 grants will be awarded to individuals with disabilities for the pursuit of activities, education or experiences that are central to developing or enhancing their abilities.  Eligible grant applicants must be 18 years or older, have a disability and reside in northeast Indiana.  The downloadable grant application is available at www.fifthfreedom.org and is due Monday, March 29, 2010.
 
The AWS Foundation is proud to be a major sponsor of this event in recognition of AWS' 50th anniversary of providing services to children and adults with disabilities.