Creating opportunities for adults with disabilities since 1974 |
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
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Hello Friends of Vocational Visions,
Our Vocational Visions community is saddened by the passing of our long-time board member, Ed Kenna. For decades, Ed has contributed his time and energy to strengthening our organization. Ed worked tirelessly to guide us through many challenges over the years. Throughout Ed’s tenure, Vocational Visions has grown into a strong force for good in the community, providing innovative services to more people with disabilities and their families. Ed’s contributions on the board over the years have been innumerable, and he will be missed by all.
The 2023 Empowering Possibilities campaign was very successful. Our goal was to raise $15,000, and with your help and support, we raised a total of $21,650! We are so grateful for every person and organization that stepped up to help us blow right past our goal.
Finally, as the end of our fiscal year approaches, I want everyone to know how excited we are about the direction of Vocational Visions. We have increased our wages and hired many new staff. As we welcome new people to the organization, we are looking at funding opportunities to provide additional training and support to all staff. We are always looking at ways to provide innovative services that help people we serve create opportunities to learn new skills and be part of their communities. We still have a need for more new staff, particularly in our programs that serve people who are medically fragile or have a higher need for support. As we fill those positions, we can look at serving additional people who could benefit from these services.
Thanks again to everyone in our Vocational Visions community. We truly appreciate your support, your trust in us, and the value you place in our mission. We want to honor that trust in everything we do for the people we serve.
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"EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES"
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A VERY BIG THANK YOU to those of you who donated and supported of our Empowering Possibilities Giving Day on June 1st!! We blew our original goal of $15,000 out of the water and raised over $21,600!! Your contributions help Vocational Visions continue to provide the best possible programming for personal growth and independence.
Thank you to our Corporate Matching Donors!
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Adult Development Program |
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The Adult Development Program would like to highlight all of our volunteer sites that allow our persons served to use and learn new skills while helping out our local community. These sites range from places we have worked with for multiple years to new places that we have started within the last couple months. Our goal is to allow each of our groups to have one to two volunteer days each week to help support and give back to our local community. These sites include a variety of places such as Serra’s Pantry, Saddleback Food Distribution, Saddleback Church Grocery Distribution, Mercy Warehouse, Rescue Mission, Crossroads Church, Mission Viejo Church, and Family Assistance Ministries.
At the food pantries our persons served help sort, box, and bag eggs, bag assortments of foods, put boxes and bags of food items in cars. At places such as Mercy Warehouse, everyone assists in putting books on shelves, folding/hanging clothes, and organizing any of the donated items. Lastly, at our church sites, our persons served help prepare for the church services by putting pamphlets, papers, and pens in the seating areas. In total, ADP has a dozen or so different volunteers sites and the staff and participants always enjoy helping these non-profits by working together to make our community a brighter place.
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Edward William Kenna, age 88, of Mission Viejo, California passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
Edward Kenna was a Vocational Visions Parent Representative and served on the Board of Directors since 1985. Before moving to Southern California, Edward worked with the Kirk Center in Illinois, a facility similar to Vocational Visions.
Edward joined the Board when Vocational Visions was still known as Saddleback Community Enterprises, as the result of an invitation from a board member who felt his business acumen was needed. Edward also joined because his developmentally disabled daughter then attended Esperanza Education Center, and would move on to Saddleback Community Enterprises after she left school at Esperanza.
Edward’s dedication and contributions to our Board of Directors and to our organization were very much appreciated and will be sorely missed.
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A tribute from Dr. Linda Albers, Chairperson, Board of Directors
"The Vocational Visions Board of Directors is deeply saddened by the passing of a longstanding Board member, Edward Kenna. Ed had a deep commitment to being generous. He was generous with his time and effort on behalf of Vocational Visions, as a Board President and a Board member. He was generous in his commitment to his church. And, most importantly, he was generous with his love and support of his family. Ed’s daughter, Nancy, especially benefitted greatly from this love as shown for Ed’s support of the Vocational Visions program overall and specifically the programs that Nancy has participated in. Nancy’s well-being is a testament to Ed’s generosity. Ed’s church benefitted greatly from his unwavering and reliable donation of his time as an assistant to the priests. Many parishioners benefitted from Ed’s time and care. Ed’s family benefitted from his constant attention to details that made their lives better and their future secure. While we are all saddened by Ed’s passing, the generosity that he bestowed on so many people will remain a legacy in his honor."
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Want a great way to support the programs? Click on the link below and see what each program has on their "Wish List"
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Vocational Visions Increases
Starting Pay Rate to $19 per Hour!
We are very pleased to announce that, as of June 1st, we will be increasing our Direct Support Professional (DSP) starting pay to $19.00 per hour! Starting wage may be up to $20.50 per hour depending on qualifications and prior experience!
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Like to make a donation to benefit Vocational Visions?
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Got an old car, truck, RV, boat, or even a plane you're looking to get rid of? Donate it to Vocational Visions! It's quick and easy, and we handle the pick up and paperwork at no charge to you. Plus, you can get a tax deduction once your donation sells, and all proceeds benefit Vocational Visions. Win-Win!
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50th Anniversary Gala April 13, 2024 |
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Vocational Visions celebrates its 50th Anniversary April 13, 2024
at the beautiful Aliso Viejo by Wedgewood event center.
Mark your calendars!
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BUY GROCERIES AT RALPHS
EARN DONATIONS FOR VV
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Shop for your groceries and earn donations for Vocational Visions! Simply link your free Ralphs Grocery Store shopper's card account to Vocational Visions as part of this program:
Then, swipe your shopper's card (or enter your associated phone number) during the checkout process and Ralphs will make a quarterly donation to us on your behalf.
It only takes a couple of minutes to sign up. Click on the link above or the image below to sign up and make a difference in an unassuming but important way.
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Purchases excluded from earning a donation include: alcohol, tobacco, pharmacy, postage stamps, gift cards and gift certificates, CRV, fluid milk and milk products, lottery and promotional tickets, fuel and fuel center purchases. |
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