January E-News - Issue 1                                                           January 3, 2016
Special Kids Special Families wishes you and your loved ones a very special New Year that fills each day with an abundance of joy and happiness with bountiful prosperity and serenity. As we enter a new year, we do so with gratitude, hope and inspiration to make 2016 even a better year for everyone we serve through our programs.

Thanks for taking the time to read...

WITH GRATITUDE & THANKS

Sharon Sperry from 100 Women Who Care Colorado Springs,delivering a donation of more than $7,000 to SKSF.
From left to right, Sharon Sperry; Kira Davis (SKSF Board Member) & Linda Ellegard (SKSF Executive Director).

SKSF Received Two Generous Donations

As we continue to make an impact in our community, two amazing Colorado Springs donating organizations - Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation and Colorado Springs Chapter of 100 Women Who Care - have stood up to recognize our efforts and join us in supporting people with disabilities.

The Colorado Springs Chapter of 100 Women Who Care, a local women's charitable organization, delivered a donation of more than $7,000 to Special Kids Special Families demonstrating their solidarity with our mission. This is the first time this organization has donated to SKSF and we are thrilled to add them to our list of benefactors.  Please take a moment to learn more about this group at  www.100womenwhocarecoloradosprings.com/ .

In addition, Doris Ralston of the Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation delivered a grant of $10,000 to continue their past support of SKSF.  The Foundation's mission - to improve the health and well-being of our community consistent with their Osteopathic heritage, places a tremendous value on the whole person and also on the whole community. To learn more about the Foundation - http://www.csof.org/.
Below from left to right: Zach's Place Program Director,
Renae Isakson; SKSF Board Treasurer,

2015 INDY GIVE! 

Thanks to everyone that donated through the Indy Give! campaign this year!  Through this campaign, Indy Give! has raised over $1 MILLION DOLLARS in total supporting 88 non-profit organizations.

We are lucky to have raised enough donations to receive 100% the matching grants of $5,400 from our generous matching grantors -   Dan & Diana Nagel, Dusty and Kathy Loo Fund, El Pomar Foundation, SKSF Board of Directors, Davey Coach Sales, and friends of SKSF. 

With 78 donors giving $17,943 PLUS our matching grants of $5,400, Special Kids Special Families has raised a grand total of:

$23,343.00

to support our Zach's Place program for children with disabilities and special needs.  We are grateful to the Indy Give! for their support and all the donors giving to our organization!  

SKSF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
Zach's Holiday Feast
One of the key self-sufficiency goals for many of our Zach's Place kids, is the ability to feed themselves.  While this may be the physical act of eating from the plate for some, it is also an understanding of the process of making their meals. To that end, many of the activities at Zach's Place at the Laurie Hillyard Family Center include the cooking process. This year participants and kids enjoyed a holiday feast from start to finish.
 
The youth went to the store and helped staff purchase food; returned to Zach's Place to work as a team with the staff to prepare the meal. The youth and staff made everyone placemats and together they enjoyed the food. By far, the favorite food was the dessert - pumpkin muffins. There is a Zach's Place secret recipe; yellow cake mix (can be gluten free cake mix) and a can of pumpkin, that's it!  Sometimes chocolate chips and marshmallows are added to make things extra sweet. This treat is such a hit and the kids make these so much in the fall that some of the youth have made them for their parents at home!
SKSF Staff Appreciation Party
Everyone likes to be recognized for what they do and appreciated for their efforts.  SKSF took some time to have a staff appreciation party as the year came to an end to recognize our amazing teams. While programs continued and staff were at their facilities to care for program participants, many were able to join together for a wonderful pot luck meal at Adult Services, wish each other happy holidays and share a few words of praise for coworkers  who all go above and beyond to help each other out as well a make a dramatic difference in the lives of those they care for.
 
Special Kids Special Families wishes everyone a bright and happy New Year and a wonderful 2016!


UPCOMING EVENTS
Zach's Time Playgroups
Monday, January 11th & January 25th
9:00am - 12:00pm
4795 Granby Circle, Colorado Springs

What is Zach's Time?
A time available for ALL young children to attend Zach's Place to play and make friends with other children their age.  We have story time, sing songs, make age appropriate crafts and have a snack.  Playgroups are scheduled every other Monday.

Space is limited so be sure to sign up today!  $20/session per child. Contact Tammy at (719) 329-1717 or  [email protected].
Zach's Place FUN Night
Friday, January 8th: FROZEN Theme
Friday, February 12th: VALENTINE'S Theme
5:30-8:30pm

Socialization is an important goal for our youth at Zach's Place at The Laurie Hillyard Family Center. We offer two unique opportunities to meet this goal. Fun Nights are the second Friday of every month and are open to all ages and abilities. We provide pizza, make dessert together, create a craft and play games. Teen Nights are the FOURTH Friday of every month and are open to children over the age of 13 who work well independently. We provide pizza and do different activities every month.

Registration & intake process is required for participation.  Please allow 2 weeks to process.  Contact Tammy Miklebost at 719-329-1717 or  [email protected].  Limited space.
Zach's Place TEEN Night
A Special Teen Experience - Tim Tebow's Foundation Night to Shine

The Zach's Place February Teen Night will once again take place at the Tim Tebow's "Night to Shine."  This is a prom for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities 16 years of age and older on February 12th from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The event is taking place in 26 states and three countries. The local event will take place at Pikes Peak Christian Church and has been a wonderful experience for Zach's Place teens in the past.  Prom is often considered a major milestone or event in a typical teen growing experience being the subject of books and movies throughout American culture. The "Night to Shine," offers teens with challenges a supportive and loving environment to enjoy this right of passage.
 
Registration deadline is January 15th. Information and instructions on registering teens for the event is available from Zach's Place and parents are encouraged to participate.  Teens who are registered also need to inform Zach's staff so they can be transported to the event.  During last year's event, the girls received flowers and could have makeup done on site.  Kids walked on the "red carpet," and rode around the parking lot in a limousine.  Everyone received crowns and glow necklaces. 
 
For more information on the event or to register, please go to http://www.pikespeakchristian.org/nighttoshine/.


     
Be sure to mark your calendar for Upcoming Events and important DATES to remember

Visit http://sksfcolorado.org/fundraisers/ for detailed information



JANUARY 11th - Zach's Time Playgroup


JANUARY 25th - Zach's Time Playgroup





OCTOBER 1st -  Night of Comedy fundraiser


     
While shopping online at Amazon.com, log in with your normal email address and password that you use and select SKSF as your charity of choice!  SKSF will receive .5% of all purchases made through this link:  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-1476535.
 
Purchase an oil change discount card for 5 oil changes AND free tire rotation and SKSF earns $40 for each card sold!   Print out an informational flyer online!

Koscove Metal accepts all kinds of recycling and donates a portion of monetary value to SKSF when drop off is identified for the organization.  Visit  koscovemetal.com for acceptable recycling materials.
 
When you purchase a reloadable King Soopers Gift Card for $2.50, you provide support to Special Kids Special Families (SKSF) while you do your normal shopping at King Soopers (or any other Kroger Family Store) and while you receive your normal benefits, such as accruing fuel points. SKSF will receive a cash donation worth 5% of your purchases. Visit our website for more details.  

     
NEW STAFF at SKSF

SKSF welcomes 
Melanee Wise.

Melanees' new position is
Receptionist / Administrative Assistant for Adult Services. 

SKSF welcomes 
Kalinka Calidas Premawardhana. 

Kalinka's position is
Adult Mentor for Adult Services in the ICAN Program.


Would YOU like to join SKSF and be a part of a team?
We are now hiring  for the following positions:

 



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