The United Way of Howard County’s annual campaign has kicked-off, and they are on their way to raising $2.1 million. What’s so cool about the United Way, though, is that after they raise those funds they turn around and give them back to fund programs at 16 different partner agencies.
Why is that exciting? Bona Vista Programs is one of those partner agencies! Thanks, in part, to your United Way support, we are able to have two programs – Community Connections and Early Developmental Screenings – funded through United Way dollars.
Still not excited because you’re not familiar with those two programs? Let me break them down for you, so you can get on our level of excitement. Community Connections is an all-day adult program that provides programming for adults with severe and profound disabilities. The persons served through this program receive intense supervision through a variety of classes specific to each person that generates a meaningful day. For example, one person may want to learn how to make a scrapbook while another has a goal of tying their own shoes. So that’s what they will each work on while at Community Connections. Not everyone works on the same goals, which allows each individual to reach their optimum potential! In addition, Community Connections works hand-in-hand with licensed therapists, nurses, social workers, behavior consultants and other stakeholders to give persons served the best we have to offer every single day.
The United Way also partially funds Developmental Screenings through our Positive Results for Kids pediatric therapy program. Through their funding, we are able to provide these screenings FREE of charge for parents and children birth to five years of age in our community. There, literally, is no catch when we tell you it’s FREE. You sign your child up, bring them in to get evaluated by licensed therapists to see if your child is developing appropriately for their age, get vitally important information to your child’s development and walk out with a piece of mind that parents would pay high dollar for! Therapists screen fine motor skills, gross motor skills, cognitive skills, vision, language skills, self-help skills and social skills. These early childhood interventions can help them achieve developmental milestones early in their growth. Our next developmental screening is November 2, 2016. To sign up, call 765-454-5340. There are a limited number of spots available, so don’t wait!
The United Way of Howard County support adults and children in our community through their funding of Bona Vista Programs, and we help support them with our programming! It’s a wonderful partnership! For additional information regarding Bona Vista’s United Way-funded programs above, please call 765-457-8273, visit our web site at www.bonavista.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! For questions regarding the United Way Campaign and how you can donate, call 765-457-4357.
Until next time…keep a good view on life!
-AB