The Circle K Aces High Golf Tournament

Circle K Aces High Golf Tournament, a Success!

Circle K is currently planning for the 8th Annual Aces High Golf Tournament benefitting UCP of Central Arizona in Las Vegas on October 18th and 19th.  The 2009 event was a huge success, raising over $400,000 for UCP of Central Arizona.  We are looking forward to another amazing event!

The event will bring together many Circle K business partners for a silent auction reception, which will take place at the Ghostbar in the Palms hotel on October 18th.  The following day, the actual tournament will be played at the beautiful Revere Golf Club.

For more information on the 2010 event please contact the Development Department by email or at 602.943.5472.

Welcome to UCP’s new Web Site

UCP has been eager to embark on our efforts to improve our community awareness; one of the first steps of this is our new website. Welcome! We hope that you find our new site to be visually appealing and user-friendly. We are excited to have this tool to share information about UCP in a more efficient and professional way. Please visit our site regularly to learn more about the services we provide, the individuals and families that we serve, and the work we are doing in the community.

We have also joined several social networks to help increase awareness for UCP of Central Arizona, and to develop new relationships to support our efforts, our events and donations. Look for “UCPofCentralAZ” on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr and Twitter; Make friends, follow us, and join our cause.

All of these new efforts are not static, stand-alone initiatives. They are all inter-connected and are ways for us all to communicate, to work together, to offer support. They keep us in touch with the day to day, as well as the big picture of our common goal: Life without limits for people with disabilities.

As a civic leader, a caregiver, a direct consumer, a relative, a potential employee, or simply a giving individual who wants to be involved – we welcome you – again – to UCP of Central Arizona.

Sincerely,

Dan Rossi
Executive Director

UCP Ambassador: Dae’vionte

Dae’vionte (Dae) is a loving 3 year old who is diagnosed with Septo-Optic Dysplasia, Critical Visual Impairments, malformations of the brain, and significant developmental delays.  Despite his disabilities, he is a vivacious little boy who loves to explore new things.  He enjoys spending time outside and especially loves to swing, slide, and crawl under anything humanly possible.  His personality and high spirits seem to touch the hearts of everyone he encounters and leaves them smiling.

Dae’vionte has been attending UCP’s Early Learning Center for 1 ½ years and has made many great strides since his arrival.  At first starting UCP, Dae’vionte was unable to independently walk.  Within a month or so he was off and walking.  This accomplishment served as a big milestone for him and with it came a new found sense of independence and mobility, which prompted him to explore many things that he had once feared.

UCP has created an environment in which he is constantly interacting with a diverse group of peers, which teaches him many new things and often motivates him to try and achieve things his disabilities inhibit or hinder.  UCP has helped to create structure in his life and is continuing to help him learn the necessary skills to lead an average life despite his disabilities.  The services offered by UCP have been a warm welcoming addition to our lives and they have served us in an equal and inclusive manner.  UCP has not allowed Dae’vionte’s disability define who he is and have an optimistic outlook for his potential.

With the continuation of support from programs at UCP and Dae’s determination we have no doubt in our minds and hearts that one day he will be enjoying and doing many more similar things as those his age.  Dae’vionte’s continual success and goals accomplished are an excellent example of UCP’s motto and purpose “Life without Limits for People with Disabilities.”

To date, Dae’vionte has mastered one phrase, which is “Uh-oh”, we like to think that it is his way of telling people who choose to define him based on his disabilities that “Uh-oh” they are wrong about him, and he CAN and WILL accomplish many things.

– Dae’vionte’s Parents, Tashira and Mitchell

UCP Ambassador: Nick

Nick is a sixteen year old who has Fragile X Syndrome, which is the leading cause of genetic retardation.  He enjoys being funny and making people laugh, as well as going to school and being at UCP.  His family calls UCP ‘camp’ because it is a place, they say, that is fun while also teaching him things at the same time.

Nick enjoys playing on the computer, listening to gospel music, playing the harmonica, going to Coyotes games, cheering for his Dolphins Football team, playing nine holes of golf and going to Church on Sundays.

Since becoming involved with UCP two years ago, Nick has blossomed into a self confident young man who is capable of doing so many different things.  Nicholas’ mother says,

I can not say enough about how wonderful everyone at UCP is.  They truly do everything they can to help our special children reach their maximum potential and to become the most independent members of society that they can.  Nick loves his ‘camp’ and I truly believe without all the wonderful things that they can do and all the wonderful people who work there, that Nick would not be as far as he is today!  Thank you for sponsoring UCP – by doing so you improve the lives of our special children, their families and our community!

– Nick’s Mother, Denise

UCP Ambassador: Victoria

Victoria is a 4 year old spunky girl with Spastic Diplegia.  She was born pre-mature and spent 4 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 9 months old and has been receiving Physical Therapy ever since.  She uses loft-strand style crutches and wears solid ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) braces on both feet.  She currently receives Physical Therapy at UCP twice a week and is doing very well.

Victoria loves coming to UCP and responds wonderfully to her therapy. Her therapists really care and work very hard to help her do the things that most of us take for granted.  They have helped her with things such as taking her shoes off or stepping up onto a curb.

We are very grateful for UCP.  If it wasn’t for them, we don’t think Victoria would be doing nearly as well as she is now.  We hope that we continue to use UCP for as long as Victoria may need.  Victoria’s career goal now is to be a Speech Therapist.  Who knows, maybe one day she will work for UCP!

– Victoria’s Parents, Erica and Bill

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