From camp to Career: A Love Letter to Civitan BY HANA RUZSA My journey with Civitan Foundation Inc. started with a posting on an ASU job board for current students. The listing read “Graphic Designer with InDesign Experience to Start Newspaper with Adults with Developmental Disabilities.” I HAD to learn more. Only a few years earlier, I gave birth to my first child, Ricky. Nothing was alerting during my pregnancy until close to the very end, and only until after my delivery did I learn my little boy would have some struggles growing up. He has been diagnosed with a very rare chromosomal disorder called Koolen de Vries Syndrome. To give and myself the best future possible, I went back to school to study graphic design and that is when my worlds collided. Here was an opportunity for me a use my design skills. Here was an opportunity to teach, which is something I have always loved doing. Here was an opportunity for me to impact the lives of folks in the disability community, a community my son and I belong to. This was the chance for a better future, for everyone involved. From a northern accessible camp that started in 1968, to Civitan Village, a massive learning campus that opened in 2013, Civitan Foundation has been at the forefront of offering exceptional services for exceptional people. Going beyond traditional learning and employment, Civitan truly fosters the skillsets of each of their unique members and is always introducing programming to diversify their education and job training. At Civitan, my students were learning film, photography, branding and more. Other members at Civitan were making incredible works of art, mural installations, pet portraits (you better believe I ordered one!) and some of the best food I have ever tasted. Yes, Civitan even caters and has partnerships with local restaurants like 32 Shea to create and
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deliver delectable items. When my best friend got married this October, I told her right away she had to hire Civitan for her catering, and boy did they deliver an amazing meal. My husband said the food took him back to his grandmother’s cooking while visiting her in Mexico. During the summer months, Civitan Foundation partners with several sites in the Phoenix metro area and Williams, Arizona, to provide more than 17,000 healthy meals, based on USDA nutrition guidelines. Supervised members of Civitan’s culinary program prepare and deliver the food to locations in north Phoenix. Meals served in Williams are prepared at Camp Civitan. Robert is a Civitan member who works several days a week at Flerish, Civitan’s boutique thrift shop located on Cave Creek Rd, north of Cactus. He enjoys being a vital help to customers, “I help them carry their stuff out and greet people and make their day. I like to see their smiles.” Robert receives on the job training in customer service, inventory management, and retail setups, all while earning a paycheck. Currently, my Ricky benefits from Civitan’s respite and habilitation services, where they’re making sure my little boy is successful with independent living techniques that I took for granted before my son was born. Without Civitan, I do not know what I would do. I have so much respect for their providers, I love their members, and I know when Ricky is older, I have a fantastic place to enroll him for his future success. At the Moon Valley Tattler, we do what we can to support the missions close to our heart. Here’s one that if clearly very dear to mine. Take the time to learn more about Civitan Foundation today at www.CivitanFoundationAz.org and please take note that great organizations like Civitan rely on the communities financial support. So, why not send those tax credits their way. It benefits you too!
All-Terrain Mobility Chair Will Open Possibilities For Campers By Bo Larsen Camp Civitan in Williams, Arizona was established to provide children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience the unique joy of summer camp – regardless of ability level. By opening its doors, Camp Civitan created one of the first year-round, fully accessible camping experiences in Arizona that, to this day, continues to set the standard for lifelong adventures for children and adults with disabilities. Founded in 1968, Camp Civitan is a 15-acre wheelchair accessible facility that offers campers a variety of enriching and fun experiences that promote positive self-esteem, teamwork, socialization, and healthy activities. But, what if there is a trail or activity where a typical wheelchair can’t easily navigate? Thanks to Terrain Hopper USA of Tempe, Camp Civitan has an opportunity to receive an all-terrain motorized wheelchair. Through a matching grant opportunity, Civitan Foundation must raise $12,500 and Terrain Hopper USA will match the funds and build this unique electrically powered off-road mobility vehicle. The Terrain Hopper provides users with the ability to participate in outdoor activities with their friends and family. As an Other PowerDriven Mobility Device (OPDMD), the Terrain Hopper can be used by a mobility impaired person anywhere a pedestrian is allowed. To support Civitan Foundation’s effort to reach the match grant opportunity to receive the Terrain Hopper, go to www.CivitanFoundationAZ.org/ donate-to-civitan.
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