Veronica moved to the Rogue Valley from Yreka, CA in 2010. In 2011, Veronica became an artist for the Studio at Living Opportunities. “I have always liked to draw but discovered painting at the Studio and I can now express myself in art more.” Veronica likes to play basketball and soccer in her spare time. Veronica says “I always like a challenge. The more challenging it is, the better it is.” Veronica has sold many paintings thus far and will continue her creation of art.

Carol was one of seven siblings who grew up on a farm in northeast Colorado.  It was a self-sustaining operation—500 acres of cows, chickens, pigs, turkeys, ducks, geese and gardens. Carol, who is still a farm girl at heart, loved to ride her bike and help milk the cows.  Music was very important to Carol and she sang along as she completed each task. She looked forward to the weekly trip to the library and, to this day, enjoys having anyone read to her.  Carol lived in the state institution in Grand Junction for awhile after her mother died, but during a visit to Ashland with sister, Helen, and brother-in-law, Joe, she told them she wanted to stay.  Today Carol lives in a group home, but visits with Helen and Joe every weekend and on holidays.  With the assistance of Living Opportunities’ Ashland Community Employment Services she is a long-term (12 years!) employee of Ashland Drug, where she does various clean-up and recycling jobs.  You’ll know Carol is hard at work when you shop there—she still sings along with each task!

Kenny grew up in Southern California with his sisters, Denise and Renee.  Renee remembers the many summers the family spent on trips to The Sierras, Colorado and Oregon. “Kenny would ride in the jerry-pack on my Dad’s back as we hiked…and spend hours throwing rocks into the lake while we were fishing.  Didn’t seem to bother the fish and he was very happy.”  When Kenny’s dad passed away unexpectedly, shortly after retirement, his mother was relieved to use Living Opportunities’ Respite Program at Stone House to care for Kenny when she needed a break.  It was her heartfelt wish that Stone House would become Kenny’s home when she was no longer able to care for him.  In May 2007, Kenny moved into Living Opportunities’ Blue Heron group home.  His mother’s prayer was answered when, in May of this year, Kenny took up residence at Stone House.  Kenny continues to enjoy the outdoors and frequents the water park in Central Point. He is a fan of The Price is Right, Animal Planet and major league baseball.  Beginning this fall, he will use internet technology to attend live broadcasts of services from Applegate Christian Fellowship on his TV when he is unable to attend in person, but his greatest joys are phone calls and visits from sisters Denise and Renee.

Blackstone Audio Inc. of Ashland is a family-run company specializing in publishing and producing an eclectic array of high quality audiobooks. Established in 1987 by Craig and Michelle Black, Blackstone Audio has grown to be one of the largest privately owned audiobook companies in the nation with a library of more than 5,000 titles and growing each month. They earned two Grammy award nominations for 2012: one for its audio production of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s staging of “Hamlet” and the second for “The Mark of Zorro” starring Val Kilmer in the spoken word album category. In addition, Blackstone has been recognized by the audiobook industry, having received 86 Audie award nominations, 22 Audie Award wins, and over 137 Earphone Awards.

Blackstone is a recent business partner with Living Opportunities employing Keith Erickson as a stocking assistant in their library and warehouse. Devin Mahoney, Blackstone Operations Manager, believes that Keith has fit in well with their team and that having Keith makes good business sense because it was a job that was hard for existing staff to keep up on. Devin says, “Having Keith here several hours each day really helps other staff focus on the tasks they were hired to do. He takes pride in his work and does a great job of keeping inventory organized, so much so that we are considering bringing him for even more hours each week.”

Living Opportunities is proud to partner with this outstanding local business.

44-year old Vince is someone who has struggled for, and ultimately achieved, a self-directed, fully supported life.  He spent many years in foster care or group homes, but, with help from our Supported Living Services, he is a resident of the Lithia Place apartments, where he shares a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate. Vince has solid relationships with his neighbors, who value his sense of humor and fun-loving spirit.  He enjoys community barbecues, and attends hockey games with friends and support staff.  He is a valued member of the baseball, track and bowling teams at Special Olympics.  His part-time job with RCC Facility Operations doing grounds maintenance keeps him busy, but never interferes with his activities at the Jerusalem Center and Joy Christian Fellowship, where his inclination to make “a loud and joyful noise unto the Lord” is embraced.  Vince particularly enjoys honoring his Native American heritage by attending powwows, participating with enthusiasm in open dance and singing groups. Staffer Laura Whelan, who accompanied him to the annual Ute powwow in Utah, states that the “powwows are very emotionally soothing for Vince. The dancers dedicate dances to him. He feels comfortable and fits in—it’s where he is accepted and has a sense of belonging.”

Jason and Eric, die-hard Beavers and Ducks fans, are native Oregonians who have worked hard to gain independence and today live in their own apartments with some support services provided by Living Opportunities staff. Although Eric & Jason both hold part-time jobs, their income is just sufficient to meet daily living expenses—there is no room in tight budgets for tickets to a game or to pay for travel expenses. MT readers donated $550.00 to fund a trip to see a live Beavers/Ducks game.

Fifty-five year old Calvin has persevered over the course of a very tough life, until a stroke two years go resulted in some mobility and speech problems. He has made a partial recovery, but now spends most of his time at home, following the day’s events as they unfold on his police scanner. His analog scanner will soon be obsolete as the police switch to an all-digital format.

Calvin has never left the Rogue Valley (other than a fateful trip to Salem to be institutionalized) and yearns to see the ocean. Considerate readers of the MT contributed $275.00 and one person donated the use of a beachside cabin.

Janet retired a few years ago and lives on a very limited fixed income in a Living Opportunities group home. When she moved to her new neighborhood, she really enjoyed going for walks, seeing the kids playing and visiting with her many neighbors. She is still mobile with the use of a walker, but recently has become more unstable and this has caused a curtailment of her activity. The very day her Light One Candle story appeared a kind gentleman called to say he had just read the story and “it must be fate.” He was getting his wife’s golf cart ready for sale and instead he gave it to Janet.

On behalf of Jason, Eric, Calvin and Janet a BIG thank-you to the big-hearted Mail Tribune readers who helped make dreams come true.

The Studio at Living Opportunities has expanded  our mission to embrace artists with all types of disabilities.  In 2008, when Noo shared his drawings with his therapy group, the therapist recommended The Studio at Living Opportunities.  Noo was shy about having no art training, but Studio Director Dan Mish encouraged him to give it a try.  Noo says art “opens me to a new day and a new kind of life.  I see art now in everything I look at.  Everything good that comes out of life comes into my pictures and I can share my new inspiration.” Noo is the recipient of a workshop scholarship from the furnARTure event, and has ventured from line drawings to painting with vivid colors.

Currently employed part time as a van driver, 48-year old Noo is a native Oregonian, and one of nine children.  In the past, he has worked in grounds maintenance, as a nursery man and for 10 years on the docks at Harry & David.  He spent 5 years as a member of a Christian rock group, The Lighthouse Band, and in his spare time composes on keyboard, guitar and drums.

In October 2011, Oregon Business Magazine announced the findings of the annual survey of non-profit organizations and for the second year in a row, Living Opportunities was acknowledged as one of the 100 Best Non-profits to Work For in Oregon. Our employees cited practical reasons for their rating: flexibility to balance family, community and job obligations as well as paid time off and leave benefits and positive work environments. We are most proud, however, of the philosophical basis for their appraisals, which gave high ratings for adherence to and progress on mission and purpose, support for the broader community and fairness for differing racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age and economic status. Our sincere appreciation to all of our dedicated employees, whose conscientious efforts further our goals every day.

The future of Living Opportunities will be assured with your gift to the Endowment Fund. An endowment fund is a special fund that provides a “payout” every year to support the mission of Living Opportunities. The corpus, or principal, of the endowment is kept intact, and only the interest, or a portion of it, it available for use.

Our staff would be happy to discuss with you the many ways that you can participate in the Living Opportunities Endowment Fund, managed and administered by the Oregon Community Foundation

Endowment gifts may be made during a person’s life or at death through a will or trust. Some donors combine the two, making a gift during their lifetime, and then adding to it with a bequest.

If you have already remembered Living Opportunities in your will, please let us know so that we can include you in the activities of our Valley View Society. If you would like further information about charitable gift planning, transfer of stocks or other appreciated property, or creating a charitable annuity or trust, please contact Jim Gochenour at 541-772-1503.

Gifts to the Endowment Fund may be made in any amount. You are welcome to make a gift in honor of a friend or loved one. In recognition of gifts or bequests over $25,000, you may wish to have one of the following named.

-A meeting or conference room in the Living Opportunities administration building

-The Photo Gallery and services

-A Group Home

-The Studio Art Gallery

-The Out and About Recreation Room

-Employment Services Center

The Opportunity Tree will honor all those who have made gifts of $5,000 or more to the Living Opportunities Endowment Fund. Your name or the name of someone you wish to honor will be included on a leaf of this beautiful sculpted tree.

Endowment gifts are like sunlight and water to the long-lasting growth of Living Opportunities.  Your gift to the endowment fund will live forever, helping to fulfill our mission and promise to the community we serve.

I couldn’t finish without announcing the receipt of two significant grants.  The Meyer Memorial Trust has awarded us $75,000 to assist in our development and employment departments, a grant of $15,000 from Leightman-Maxey Foundation will help us address the waitlist for our job development services, and a $6,000 grant from the Carpenter Foundation will assist in the Studio.  Thank-you so much to these generous funders!

I look forward to seeing you at the Ashland Livin’ Lovin’ Lunchin’ on November 16th and I hope you all have a jubilant Thanksgiving–I can’t think of any group of people who are more deserving.

Best Regards,

Roger