On Sunday afternoon October 2nd, some 250 people gathered in the Bigham Knoll Ballroom, Jacksonville for the second annual furnARTure fundraising event to benefit The Studio at Living Opportunities.  We are indebted to our many sponsors: Cutler Investment Group, Umpqua Bank and United Risk solutions, as well as Bicoastal Media, Charter, Mustard Press, OPUS Broadcasting, Snapshot and Terra Firma Home.  The gala afternoon was the culmination of a year-long planning process by a group of some 40 volunteers, led by furnARTure Chairperson Baylee LaVoie. The décor was lovely and all attending enjoyed the scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and canapés from Season’s Events Catering and libations donated by Troon Vineyard, Roxy Ann Winery, Jacksonville Inn and Valley View Winery.  MC Shannon Young was charming and Auctioneer C.W. Smith returned to motivate the bidders in his usual entertaining and efficient manner during the live auction.  Scholarship Studio artist Noo Cook gave an emotional testimony regarding the major role participation in the workshops has had in managing a very difficult year in his life.  We are so proud of the outreach of 31 contributing artists who have embraced and honored artists of The Studio as part of the larger art community. Thank-you Anna Baker Powell, Anne Brooke, Carrie Kaufman, Cathy Doris, Chandra Hayes, Clista Prelle-Tworek, Curt Evans, Cynthia Flowers, Cynthia Mish, Dan Mish, Donna Patella, Ellen Cholewa, Eve Withrow, Fran Batzer, Gabriel Lipper, Holly Herrick, Jack West, Joe Romano, Joy Light, Joyce Feigner, Krissy Milner, Molly Kreuzman, Nikki Daugherty, Paul Nash, Pegi Smith, Ruth Simpson, Ryan Offenbacher, Sarah Bernard, Susan Kramer Pope, Susan Labozetta and Tiffany Kirkpatrick.

This wonderful event, which raised more than $32,000 to directly benefit the participants in The Studio at Living Opportunities, was a bang-up success, and plans for furnARTure III in the fall of 2012 are already underway.

Linda Vista (Beautiful View) in Ashland, specializes in care for stable patients who need an intensive program of recovery and around-the-clock assistance with routine personal care.  All health services are coordinated by licensed nurses.  As you can imagine, in an 87 bed facility there is a lot of stocking, documentation and paper management to be done.  That’s where Jim Thomas fits right in.  Jim, who has an AA degree in Theater and Communication and enjoys acting, singing with his choral group and music of all types, stocks personal care items and ensures that each patient always has a ready supply at hand.  He also sets up folders and files in the medical records and payroll departments.  Roberta Clemenze in central supply says “Jim is a priceless timesaver and the residents love him!”  Jim, Linda Vista and Living Opportunities—a beautiful partnership!

Living Opportunities is enlisting a team of volunteers to serve as Ambassadors to help make connections in the community. Our Ambassadors are individuals who truly understand and are passionate about our work. Their job is to introduce a minimum of ten of their friends and associates over the next year to Living Opps by inviting them a short presentation to learn about the organization.

Living Opps Livin’ Lovin’ Lunchin’s are successful fundraising events, however; we don’t want a person’s first experience with Living Opportunities to be a request for a donation. Instead we want new people to come to an overview event where they simply learn about our programs and services that support individuals with developmental disabilities. All we ask for at the overview event is feedback however; our hope is that attendees will be so interested to learn about the mission and work of Living Opps that they will become friends of the organization.

We already have ten people signed up to be Ambassadors but we are looking for an additional 20 volunteers. Please consider joining this wonderful team of “friend-raisers”. The time commitment is manageable yet, you’ll be making a significant contribution to Living Opportunities. If you are interested contact Carrie Kaufman, Business and Donor Relations Manager, at 541-772-1503 or carriek@livingopps.org.

Appreciate: to be grateful and thankful for; to value and regard highly.

The mission and purpose of Living Opportunities is to ensure that persons with developmental disabilities are full included in all facets of community life.  It’s all about people and only accomplished by the dedication and hard work of more than 140 employees and scores of volunteers who have been called to serve—they are the only means of fulfilling our purpose.   On August 23rd, 100+ plus employees, volunteers and guests gathered at Lava Lanes to enjoy dinner, a little friendly competition and to honor exemplars of commitment and service.

Dennis Franklin was named the Rosann Boyer Johnson Employee of the Year.  Dennis was the lead staff in coordinating new and complex support services in Central Point, doing whatever it took, no matter the hours, to ensure the individuals exercised choice and control as they moved to independent living.

Barbara Harper was present to award the Bill and Barbara Harper Volunteer of the Year award to Baylee LaVoie.  Baylee has served in many capacities over the years, but her leadership of the furnARTure art auctions has been outstanding.  The event is a year in planning, and she attends every meeting, coordinating the efforts of a large team of volunteers with graciousness and aplomb.

Dan Dail was recipient of the Laurie Lindberg & Jessie Martin Manager of the Year Award.  Dan, a manager in Employment Services, oversees all of the parks, grounds maintenance and janitorial contracts.  He fills in for absent crew supervisors, be it 7 in the morning or 11 at night. As one of the nominators said “he will do anything asked of him, whether it is his job or not”.

This year we completed our third summer collaboration with the Children’s Advocacy Center, bringing the healing power of artistic expression to 40 victimized youth.  The eight-week workshop concluded with another brilliant reception and auction hosted by Veranda Park, featuring the work of both CAC and Studio artists.  Each artist received a standard commission for their sales and the remaining proceeds are furthering the important and life-changing work of this wonderful alliance.  We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Children’s Advocacy Center and Veranda Park!

We are furthering our commitment to community partnerships with the formation of the Business Advisory Committee.  Members Barry Robino of the Grange Co-op, Don Anway from the Ashland Springs Hotel, Brent Kell of Valley Immediate Care, Les Cracraft from United Risk Solutions and Steve Vincent from Avista are creating strong and consistent leadership to alert the Valley’s business community to the availability of reliable, productive workers through our supported employment services.  These strong supporters of the supported employment model are developing strategies to expand employment of individuals with developmental disabilities.  If you would like to assist the Business Advisory committee, either as a member or through other means, please email Carrie Kaufman carriek@livingopps.org or give her a call at 541-772-1503.

The funds raised during the paddle call at the October furnARTure event were used to establish scholarships for artists lacking the funds to attend workshops at The Studio at Living Opportunities. Two of this year’s recipients are Cynthia Flowers and Noo Cook:

Cynthia’s interest in art began after taking an art class in high school.  In 1977, she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art from Truman University in Missouri.  After college, Cynthia traveled for 15 years with the military “I painted everywhere I went.  My painting is a form of worship.”  Cynthia is known for her beautiful landscapes and still life’s and has sold 18 paintings through the Studio.

Noo Cook had never painted prior to joining the Studio, but found his passion there in 2008.  Noo has sold 15 of his paintings through the Studio; “I love painting.  It makes me feel good.  I look forward to the Studio each week.  It is always a new experience and I never know what I am going to paint!”

“By the Window” by Noo Cook

“Dahlia” by Cynthia Flowers

The Living Opportunities Employer of the Year award for 2011 went to Valley Immediate Care; Marketing Director Holly Sutton accepted the award on behalf of the company.  Valley Immediate Care employs two individuals through Living Opportunities: Julie and Tara, and helps them to be integral members of our community and achieve the dignity of an honest day’s work.  In doing so, Valley Immediate Care is a leader in social change in our community, and we thank them for their ongoing efforts.

Since 1999, Valley Immediate Care has provided walk-in general medical care, including lab and x-ray services, 365 days a year, no appointment necessary, as well as an array of Occupational Health Services.  Brent Kell, Executive Director of Valley Immediate Care, described the positive impact he seeks for customers, business associates, and local non-profits.  He affirmed the outcomes that have resulted from hiring Tara, Julie, and other individuals with disabilities – improved self-esteem and income for the individuals and enhanced morale for other employees.  Brent also noted the practical business sense in using Living Opportunities’ Employment Services to meet unique staffing needs.  You can count on receiving value for your money with dependable, enthusiastic employees who will increase the efficiency of any work unit to which they are assigned.  We are very appreciative of Valley Immediate Care’s financial patronage and we are proud to be a business partner with a company that reaches out to support our local community.

Julie

Tara

In 2004, Living Opportunities began a little art venture for artists who happen to have disabilities. On May 19^th seven years later, the Medford Chamber Greeters welcomed the newest business to downtown Medford–The Studio at Living Opportunities, a workshop and fine art gallery located at 32 S. Central in Medford.  The Studio held a GRAND OPENING the following evening during Medford’s Third Friday Artwalk.  Dozens of visitors enjoyed the hors d’ oeuvres, wine and Ashland-distilled spirits kindly provided by Seasons Events Catering, Harry and David Country Store and Organic Nations, respectively.  The Studio Fine Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm.  Be sure to drop by and view some of the amazing works the Studio artists are creating these days.

“My name is Lisa and I’d like to share with you the incredible journey I’m having with my son David.

He was tiny at birth, less than 3 lbs., with transparent skin, several medical issues, no interest in eating, and very little chance of survival.  All I saw though was a gorgeous, red-haired baby that I immediately fell in love with.

David made it through his first three months, but the prognosis was poor:

• He will never sit up unassisted;
• he will never walk, he will never talk;
• he will never have any understanding of anything;
• he will NEVER NEVER NEVER

I began to hate NEVER.  When I looked at my beautiful baby boy, I thought “WHY NOT?”  David and I began working hard and despite the predictions of therapists and educators, he made progress:

• Never sit up unassisted?         Check – doing that
• Never walk?                            Check – doing that
• Never talk?                              Check – doing that

In the summer of 2009, we found ourselves in a crisis situation – medical problems that required hospitalization and behavioral issues that were more and more concerning with each passing day.  In October we connected with the Mae Street program at Living Opportunities, where David lives today.  The transition has not been easy for me, but Serrae and her staff have helped me realize that what David needs  and now has an opportunity to continue his “why not” journey, achieving even more skills and independence.

• Never ride a bike?                   Check – doing that – on the BMX track!
• Never finish school?               Check – he graduates transition in June!
• Never have a paying job?        Almost check – we’re working on it!

Living Opportunities is a place where people are looking for potential and believe that David can do whatever he wants.  I am looking forward to continuing our “Why Not” journey with them at our side!”