United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona Announces
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona Announces
Grand Opening of Café Without Limits Snack Bar and Retail Store
Wal-Mart Grant Provides Valuable Job Experience for Adults with Disabilities
PHOENIX, June 22, 2010 – In partnership with Wal-Mart, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona (UCP) announced today the grand opening of Café Without Limits, a public snack bar and retail store providing adults with disabilities important job skills training. The café’s grand opening will take place Monday, June 28 at 8:30 a.m. inside UCP’s Day Treatment and Training for Adults Center located at Williams Road and 17th Avenue.
The opening of Café Without Limits, which is an expansion of UCP’s workforce training program, will provide adults with disabilities essential food and beverage sales and retail training and customer service interaction, which could ultimately lead to external employment opportunities.
“United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona has had long-standing partnerships with Valley retailers such as Wal-Mart and Circle K and we are looking forward to working with these first-class organizations to enhance the training experience for our adult consumers,” said UCP Director of Programs Jerry Jones.
Through Wal-Mart’s support, including a $25,000 grant, the café features new refrigeration and heating units, coffee maker and microwave, ice and drink machines, condiment station and cash register. The café’s retail store will include UCP-branded tee-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items.
United Cerebral Palsy, whose mission of “living without limits” is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities, provides comprehensive programming to more than 3,000 children and adults throughout Arizona with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities. Earlier this week, UCP announced Armando Contreras as executive director. Contreras, who served this past year as president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, begins his new post June 21, leading one of the state’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations.
About United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona is an affiliate of one of the nation’s largest health charities. Since 1952, the nonprofit health and human services organization has served children and adults with disabilities through therapies, independent living services, inclusive and integrated educational based programs, innovative social opportunities and basic research. UCP of Central Arizona, whose mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities, provides comprehensive programming annually to more than 3,000 children and adults with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities.
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CONTACT: David Cooper, Barclay Communications
602-346-2596 / davidc@barclaycomm.com
UCP Announces New CEO!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Valley Business Leader Armando Contreras Appointed
Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
Former Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO to Lead one of the State’s Top Health Non-Profits Serving Children and Adults with Disabilities
PHOENIX, June 8, 2010 – Signaling its commitment to strengthen fundraising efforts and develop new alliances, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona (UCP) has appointed longtime Valley business leader Armando Contreras executive director. Contreras, who served this past year as president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, begins his new post June 21, leading one of the state’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations.
“It is a true honor to be selected as executive director for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona,” said Contreras. “I look forward to joining an organization already well known for bringing hope and promise to many with disabilities. My goal in the coming years will be to support UCP’s core mission by leading and expanding the organization’s efforts to build and maintain enduring partnerships aimed at enhancing its future and ongoing programs and initiatives.”
UCP, whose mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities, provides comprehensive programming annually to more than 3,000 children and adults throughout Arizona with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities.
“Armando is one of the Valley’s real treasures,” said UCP Board Chairman Terry Morrison. “His proven business expertise and fundraising skills combined with an extraordinary record of benevolent leadership will enable United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona to continue to grow and expand our ability to provide vitally needed services to thousands of children and adults with disabilities across the state.”
Serving Arizona’s fastest growing consumer and business sector, the Hispanic Chamber hired Contreras as their president and CEO last June. He previously served under former Gov. Napolitano as director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Contreras also held the position of executive director for the Governor’s Council on Small Business and was designated the Arizona Small Business Advocate. He also served as executive director of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry for more than 10 years.
Contreras earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from the University of Southern California and holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from the University of San Francisco. He has also attended the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. In the community, Contreras serves on the Board of Trustees for St. Luke’s Medical Center, the Board of Directors of the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise (ALRE), and the Board of Trustees for the Phoenix Boys Choir.
About United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona is an affiliate of one of the nation’s largest health charities. Since 1952, the nonprofit health and human services organization has served children and adults with disabilities through therapies, independent living services, inclusive and integrated educational based programs, innovative social opportunities and basic research. UCP of Central Arizona, whose mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities, provides comprehensive programming annually to more than 3,000 children and adults with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities.
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CONTACT: David Cooper, Barclay Communications
602-346-2596 / davidc@barclaycomm.com
UCP featured in “Phoenix Business Journal”
On Friday April 23, 2010 Phoenix Business Journal featured a two page article on UCP of Central Arizona.
Please click here to view the article.
UCP Launches 2010 Awareness Campaign
– “Donate Today” to Raise Awareness, Funds for Children and Adults with Disabilities —
PHOENIX, April 19, 2010 – Small donations make a big difference; just ask five-year-old Victoria, the adorable, playful “ambassador” of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona’s Valleywide campaign to raise important awareness of its cause and increase donations that go toward providing vitally needed services for Victoria and thousands of other children and adults with disabilities.
The “Donate Today” campaign, created by Barclay Communications, features vibrantly-designed billboard and transit shelter ads, as well as 30-second radio and movie theater screen spots. With the tagline “Your Small Change Makes a Big Difference,” UCP also recognizes the support of its largest sponsor. Last year, at a time of economic distress, Circle K, its partners, employees and customers stepped up and raised more than $3 million for UCP of Central Arizona and Southern Arizona through in-store canister collections. The Circle K contribution is helping to provide more than 100,000 hours of training, therapy and early intervention services for children, adults and their families.
The hopeful, but vital call-to-action is communicated through Victoria’s image and voice. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months, wears braces on both feet and, at times, uses crutches. Though it affects her walking, it doesn’t get in the way of her purpose. Victoria’s goal when she grows up is to help others as a speech therapist. An estimated 775,000 people in Arizona have a disability. UCP of Central Arizona continues to provide comprehensive services to more than 3,000 children and adults annually.
While UCP is among the nation’s top 10 health charities, many less visible, local nonprofits are struggling without substantial marketing to compete for attention and funds. Through its “Donate Today” initiative, UCP’s mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities can be shared with the greater community.
About United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona is an affiliate of one of the nation’s largest health charities. Since 1952, the nonprofit health and human services organization has served children and adults with disabilities through therapies, independent living services, inclusive and integrated educational based programs, innovative social opportunities and basic research. UCP of Central Arizona provides comprehensive programming annually to more than 3,000 children and adults with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities.
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Click here to print the press release.
UCP featured in “Pinal Ways”
Circle of Trust
by Clifford Fewel
Pinal Circle K Stores again led the way toward collecting over $3 million to fight Cerebral Palsy, a cause sponsored by Circle K stores for over 25 years. Please click here to read the entire article.
