JUNE 2018 - ISSUE 1
A big SHOUT OUT to all the great fathers out there supporting their children with love and support! We appreciate all you do!

Check out this touching Father's Day message from a Father to his special needs son...

NEXT WEEKEND!
BLUEGRASS, BREWS & BRATS!
SKSF INVITES YOU to participate in our annual BBB event ! Enjoy local bluegrass bands ( Acme Bluegrass Band & WireWood Station ), brew tasting (Bristol Brewing, Colorado Mountain Brewery, Fossil Craft Beer Company, & Storybook Brewing) a great drawing and casual food. Dance & socialize with friends and help support Zach's Place center for children with disabilities.

$20/person
includes beer from 4 local craft breweries and choice of brats, burgers or dogs PLUS 1 free entry into “basic” drawing. Wine and soft drinks, also available.
THANKS TO SPONSORS:
Here's What's Happening in our Programs...
At Zach's Place , our plans for the summer are to get out into the community as much as possible and to keep your child engaged.
Some of the activities we are looking into will include going on nature walks, riding the public bus system, Pueblo Zoo, Buell Children’s Museum, Safe Swim along with the YMCA. 

If you have any of these items to donate to the center, please contact us at 719-329-1717.
Thank you!
  • Sand Toys
  • Baby Dolls
  • Table Toys
  • Puzzles
  • Bird Seed
  • Sensory Table
  • Balls of all sorts
  • Little Tykes play equipment
  • Children’s tablets 4
  • Dress up clothes.

Eric Raber
Joey's Place client
At Adult Services , a volunteer group from Tiffany Lachnidt's, The Distinctive Group with Keller Williams Premier, LLC stepped in to help create a garden and plant beautiful flowers and plants. "We love giving back to the community especially when our children can participate too," says Lorelei H. Jaramillo, The Director of Happiness.

Many thanks to Amber Dregalla for spearheaded this volunteering opportunity through Zach's Place and Adult Services .

SKSF in the NEWS!
SKSF on FOX21 Living Local with Mia Atkins
Check out the live interview with SKSF Donor Development Coordinator, Susan Saksa on Living Local FOX21.

Jun 04, 2018 10:56 AM MDT by Mia Atkins / FOX21 Living Local

The Zach’s Place program within Special Kids Special Families benefits those families raising children with disabilities. They are holding their Bluegrass, Brews, and Brats fundraising event on June 23rd, to raise funds for Zach’s Place. To find out more about this event or Special Kids Special Families, go online to sksfcolorado.org.

Be sure to watch LIVE FOX21 KXRM Morning News

Be sure to set your TV and check out FOX21 Morning News LIVE on Friday, June 22nd from 5am-9am with Feature Reporter, Lauren McDonald!

FOX21 will be covering the Bluegrass, Brews and Brats event, with local band member Sebie Denson from Acme Bluegrass and Susan Saksa from SKSF. DON'T MISS IT! Thanks Abbie Walls for setting this up!
Listen to Our Town AM740 KVOR with Sarada Connors
Our Town on 740 AM KVOR with Sarada Connors on Saturday, June 23rd from 1-2pm. She'll be interviewing Executive Director Linda Ellegard about SKSF programs and upcoming events! OUR TOWN is a show that spotlights the community and is LIVE every Saturday  1-2  PM on AM 740 KVOR. On air host Sarada Connors connects the community with free events and local non-profits, athletes, film makers, authors, musician’s, rising professionals plus much more and also features unique giveaways! http://www.kvor.com/our-town/
Volunteers On A Mission!
Volunteer Groups Take Over SKSF!
Several volunteer groups assisted SKSF and various programs over the past month. We appreciate everyone for lending a hand!
This is the Woodmen Valley youth group that did some work at the admin office led by group leader, Colin Grant. This group spent three days with SKSF – playing with the Zach's Place kids, doing outside work at Zach’s Place and then doing yard work at the administration facility. The kids were great fun! They cleaned cabinets, cleaned out the rose bushes, raked, got rid of old leaves and pulled weeds. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK & DEDICATION!

This volunteer group came all the way from Springfield, Illinois! The United Methodist Youth Choir group , led by Alyssa Carlisle, went to Bott Park and played games with the Zach's Place children and then back to the center for pizza. After pizza, the youth sang songs with the children. Everyone had a great time!

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR MUSIC AND SPENDING TIME!   

Pictured above is Tiffany Lachnidt's The Distinctive Group Team volunteers at SKSF Adult Services facility. They helped build a beautiful garden with the Zach's Place kiddos and the adult program participants.

THANKS FOR BRINGING YOUR BRIGHT & SUNNY ATTITUDES!
WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID!

  Left to Right: Shane Phillips & Renae Christensen (CoBiz Financial); SKSF Executive Director, Linda Ellegard; Program Director, Gail DeGroot; Denise Polenske (CoBiz Financial); & Assistant Program Director, Dan Donovan along with Zach's Place kids
We'd like to thank CoBiz Financial and the CoBiz Cares Foundation for choosing Special Kids Special Families as one of their 2018 grant recipients. Your generosity allows our organization to help support individuals with disabilities and their families in our community!

"CoBiz Cares Foundation is proud to support first-time grantee Special Kids Special Families with a grant award ensuring that all families have access to the services offered at Zach’s Place. CoBiz cares deeply about our community and allocates dollars into the community ensuring that children’s and family services can be accessible to families who truly need them. Thank you, for the work you do every day supporting children and families with special needs. Your work does not go unnoticed." Marcia D. Romero, Communications Specialist, CoBiz Financial 


Visit  In the Community of CoBizFinancial.com  to learn more.
CO Biz Representative, with Zach's Place program participant, Erin Berggren
Erin Berggren with sister, Erial on swing
Other Upcoming SKSF Events...
SKSF Offers QMAP Training
Special Kids Special Families is a Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) Approved Training Entity and offers courses monthly for Support Staff and Host Home Providers caring for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. These courses are OPEN to the public.

  • NEXT CLASS: Friday, July 20th / 8-4pm

Welcome NEW SKSF employees
Toni Duran
Administrative Coordinator
Michael George
Transportation Support
Taiya Johnson
Admin Clerk
Erin Bay
Child Care Worker
Zach's Place
Leilani Lucero
Adult Mentor
Joey's Place Adult Services
Mandy Williams
Adult Mentor
ICAN Adult Services