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3rd Annual Ability Run

Loveland's Charlotte Community Cruises to Victory


Loveland Center’s 3rd Annual Ability 5K Race and 1K Fun Walk was held on a clear morning in Punta Gorda’s Laishley Park on March 26, 2023. This annual event takes place along the waterfront of Charlotte Harbor with beautiful views in a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere. We welcomed more than 200 attendees, including some furry friends from the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County

 

Our presenting sponsor was PGT Innovations, which also serves as an Annual Sponsor for Loveland Center. We are thankful to companies like PGT, which share similar core values and a desire to assist others in the community to thrive and grow. We are honored to have Bob Keller, Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy & Innovation, SE Division, at PGT Innovations, on our Board of Directors for Loveland Center. He ran and medaled too!

 

A huge thank you to all the sponsors who made this event possible. We are grateful for your support and could not bring visibility to disability without Pulse Heart, Valve, and Vascular Institute; Medsol Clinical Research; Mathnasium of Port Charlotte; Integrity Employee Leasing; Total Martial Arts & Fitness; Goodwill of Manasota; Sara Picard of Modern Woodmen; and Jeff Guerin of Jeff Reviews4U

 

Congratulations to Tony Nickell and Nancy Greeson, our 3rd Annual Ability 5K Race winners. Tony was the first runner to cross the finish line at 19:55 minutes and Nancy with a finish time of More...

Thank You Run Sponsors!

Spotlights

Justin and Sean conquer Connect4


Loveland Venice participants Justin and Sean work together to learn social cues and play games. Connect4 is a new activity for Justin.

Loveland's social model strives to help individuals support their peers and learn together.



Jimmy Strives for Independence and Shines Bright


Jimmy used to be so dependent on staff’s assistance in setting up his lunch. Recently, with verbal prompts from his staff, he is able to take out his food and drinks from his lunch bag and throw his own garbage into the trash can after eating. Jimmy will now advocate for the things that he would like to be a part of.

Great job, Jimmy!

Your Hops & Heart Invitation

Register here 

New Program

Love Learning Academy Launches

Loveland is pleased to be the first organization in the state of Florida to partner with The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) to offer DSP accreditation courses to our staff. The Love Learning Academy, recently launched to meet the educational needs of individuals with IDD, their families, and the people who make supporting them their career, is now accepting applications from Loveland staff to become certified level I, II, and III DSPs. Through this program, DSPs will complete 100 hours of online courses, delve into better understanding what they are learning and how it supports individuals, and demonstrating the support they are providing. NADSP will review their work and determine if they have qualified for this recognition. Loveland is offering certified DSPs increases in their pay rates for their dedication and expertise.

Spotlight on Venice & Sarasota

Meet V.J. Anderson

Community Engagement Manager

Venice & Sarasota


V.J. has a strong, motivated desire to improve the lives of people with disabilities and those who serve them. Due to that desire and her past professional and personal experiences with individuals with disabilities and non-profit organizations, Loveland seemed like a perfect fit for her.

Her favorite thing about working with our families, volunteers, and donors? She looks forward to spending time with and getting to know our participants and their families more. The shared passion for our community is what she feels she connects with More...

From The Clinic

"We are excited to start creating the outdoor exercises garden, shared Lauren Osmond, Director of Clinical Services. "We have picked out some really great equipment that we think will be fun for the participants and functional pieces that will help to continue our overall goals of providing participants all the tools they need to be as independent as possible. We are really starting to grow fast. At this point, we have a waiting list for all three therapies [OT, PT, and Speech]. We are now providers for most insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid."

Lisa Baer and Lucy Nicandri of Suncoast Charities present Loveland President and CEO Patrick Guerin with a check. The donation to purchase and install the outdoor exercises garden was made possible by Suncoast Charities for Children thanks to a generous donor designation from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation. Equipment will be purchased and installed in the future.

In the News

James Martin, a Starbucks barista and part-time actor with Down syndrome, made history on March 12, 2023, when he became the first person with Down syndrome to win an Oscar. Martin bagged the honor for his role in a live-action short film called "An Irish Goodbye". More by Komal Banchhor in Upworthy...




Judith Heumann was a disability rights activist and a leader of the disability community. In 1977, she helped to revive legislation that set the groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act. More on NPR...

Upcoming Events

April 27


Friendship: How to support your loved one with IDD in making, and keeping, friends

6:00 p.m.

Virtual and Loveland Port Charlotte, 4075 Tamiami Trail


Presented by Lora Carter, ADT Program Manager

Friendships are hard for everyone, but for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities navigating the complicated social environments can feel overwhelming. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to help your child build authentic friendships and support them through some of the challenges that may be specific to having a disability. 

May 18


Is That Legal?: Guardianships, Power of Attorney, and Rights of Individuals with IDD

6:00 p.m.

Virtual and Loveland North Port, 6919 Outreach Way, NP


Presented by Kathy Loughran, Chief Operating Officer

What do I need to do to protect my loved one with a disability? Should I become their guardian? Does Power of Attorney give me the ability to protect my child enough? What rights do I have, and what rights do they have, if I am their legal guardian? These questions and more will be answered to help you determine what is best for you and your loved one with IDD. *Please note that Loveland Center and its staff are not attorneys and no advice given should be taken as legal advice. Please consult with an attorney before making any legal decisions.

Recaps

Field Day at Loveland Venice

Loveland Center Venice participants enjoyed a field day, practicing their social skills, learning about fun ways to stay physically active, and more!

Loveland Welcomes Leadership North Port for Social Services Day

"It was a privilege to speak with Leadership North Port during the tour of Loveland's Venice campus and tell them about the dreams we have of expanding our services in North Port in the coming years," said Becca Eldredge, VP of Programs. "The leaders who have chosen to learn about our community and how they can best support it are the type of people who help Loveland's participants thrive. We can't wait to keep collaborating with them for years to come."

League of Women Voters of Sarasota County and Supervisor of Elections Visit



Char Gardner from the Supervisor of Elections Office shared valuable voting information with Loveland participants on March 21 in The Clubhouse, showing accessible ways to vote from large interface pads to big-screen voting monitors, hosting by the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County. With a busy election schedule just around the corner for 2024, the Supervisor of Elections urges residents to register to vote well in advance of upcoming elections and familiarize themselves with the different ways to vote and accessibility options for voters.

2024 Election Dates:

Presidential Preference Primary: March 19, 2024

Primary Election: August 20, 2024

General Election: November 5, 2024

Island Village Montessori Performs at Loveland


Loveland Center participants from Venice, North Port, and Port Charlotte were treated to a performance by the IVMS Theatre Stars at Loveland’s Venice Campus! The participants enjoyed watching the performance and practiced social skills at the same time.

Save These Dates

Loveland Golf Tournament

to Benefit Loveland North Port and Raise Awareness for New Center


Saturday, September 30

Limited to first 30 foursomes

Details and sponsorship opportunities to come


Loveland North Port is out.of.space. Help get the word out that Loveland is looking for 7,500sf in the NP area to continue providing quality day training programs, HERO After-School Care, and evolve into the number-one program for individuals with IDD in the area.


Loveland's 15th Annual BBQ

to Benefit Loveland Venice


Tuesday, December 5th

6:00 p.m.

Venice Community Center

Details and sponsorship opportunities to come

More AdvoCan Series Events

Sponsorships for all events are still available. Contact us at philanthropy@lovelandcenter.org to customize for your business today.


Let's Be Social


www.LovelandCenter.org



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