Our June Newsletter is in memory of long-time 
CILO Board Member 
and Advocate 

Brian Frazier, Sr.
  1964 - 2019


A Note from Our Executive Director

Dear Friends:
 
Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner bringing a sense of brightness, renewal and opportunity. CILO continues to seek opportunities that assist us in fulfilling our mission and support our consumers to feel this sense of renewal as well.

I am very pleased to announce our recent partnership with New Life Furniture Bank, Greater Cincinnati's only furniture bank providing gently used furniture to people in need.  Through this partnership, CILO will be able to provide furniture to our consumers transitioning from homelessness to housing, people who would not otherwise have as much as a chair to sit on.

I had the opportunity to visit New Life Furniture Bank's facility in Blue Ash last month and was incredibly impressed with the care that goes into providing furniture to make a house a home. Furniture is either re-purposed or hand made by a dedicated group of volunteers and selected based on the consumer's needs. New Life Furniture Bank continues to look for donations of essential furniture that meets their high standards to assure the person receiving the furniture will feel a sense of dignity and pride.


I offer my gratitude to Dana Saxton, New Life Furniture Bank Executive Director, for bringing this opportunity to CILO. We encourage you to learn more about New Life Furniture Bank including how you can donate or volunteer. 

I look forward to sharing more successful outcomes throughout the year. As always I want to hear from you! Email me or call me at 513-241-2600 Ext. 211.

Regards,

Rob
 
Rob Festenstein
Executive Director

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Appreciation to Our Staff

CILO receives taxpayer dollars from multiple sources on the local, state, and federal levels that allow us to facilitate vital programs for people with disabilities in our community. The responsibility of being awarded taxpayer dollars brings about the even bigger responsibility of reporting on our organization's outcomes and staying compliant with the associated laws and regulations. Annually we go through an intensive monitoring for many of these programs by our funders. After weeks and sometimes months of our staff preparing for each monitoring, CILO is proud to be fully compliant with funding requirements. A big show of appreciation goes out to the members of our team and all they do to assure CILO's programs have positive outcomes and fulfill our mission to empower people with disabilities to lead independent and inclusive lives.





Volunteers visit CILO

A huge thank you to the 7 Hills Church (Florence, KY) volunteers for doing their Heart the City Outreach project at CILO again this year. Every member of this team pruned, raked, swept, trimmed, mulched and bagged debris (even in the rain!) to clean up CILO's outdoor areas. Thanks also to our partnership with Cincinnati Tool Bank  for assisting us with the essential tools!


Learn more  here!


Equipment Swap Coming!

On Sunday, July 14, from 1pm-5pm our friends at  May We Help will be hosting an equipment swap where individuals can receive donated equipment free of charge. They report that over $100,000 in equipment was given away at their last swap! Please spread the word if you know of individuals who are in need of equipment or individuals who may wish to donate equipment they no longer use so someone else can get the benefit of it. The swap will be held at the May We Help offices at 7501 Wooster Pike, 45227. For information contact May We Help by email  or phone: 513-834-6443.


Project STIR Training this July!
Steps Towards Independence and Responsibility

T his training hosted by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services and Ohio Self Determination Association is designed to provide you and your ally tools to advocate for yourself, connect with others, and gain leadership skills.

Training topics are targeted for youth and adults age 18-30 with disabilities and those who support them.

This event is free for Hamilton County residents.  Learn more here


Wanted: Refrigerator

CILO is looking for a new or gently used (clean) refrigerator for our staff kitchen. Our current refrigerator is tired and about ready to give up!   Email us!
CILO Employee Anniversaries

Congratulations to Lisa Beane, Housing Coordinator, and Anthony Jenkins, Gallery Assistant, both celebrating 5 years with CILO!
 

Are you an Amazon shopper? Did you know you can shop for Father's Day and all your summer needs at Amazon Smile a nd support CILO?

Go  to  www.smile.amazon.com   with  your Amazon credentials and select  Independent Living Options, Inc , (make sure it says Cincinnati).  Once signed up each of your qualifying purchases at Amazon Smile   will give 0.5% back to CILO! 


Kroger Community Rewards

Looking for a super easy way to support CILO? Learn how shopping at Kroger for your picnic needs can benefit our programs and services throughout the year. Read more here!


Do you have a question about how you can support CILO?
Contact Debbie Moorehous, Development Director by email 
or phone 513.241.2600 ext. 123 


Do you need our newsletter or other CILO publication 
in an alternative format?
Contact us at 513.241.2600 or send your request via email