More than 200 people packed the Huntsville Legion this morning (May 4) for Community Living Huntsville’s Investing in Inclusion breakfast.
They were there to celebrate the work the organization does to support adults and children in our community who have developmental and intellectual disabilities, to hear some of their success stories, and learn where government funding falls short.
Attendees were treated to a performance of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World by Coulter White, accompanied on guitar by Clayton Earl. And everyone received a card featuring Watering Hole 2, artwork created by Tristen Metcalf.
(Clockwise from upper left) Wendy Sawyer interviews Carla O’Neill about how Community Living Huntsville has supported her son; Tristen Metcalf’s artwork adorned a card given to each attendee; Coulter White sings What a Wonderful World accompanied by Clayton Earl.
Board member Debi Davis made an impassioned plea to help those in the Huntsville area who fall through the cracks – adults who don’t qualify for Ministry-supported programs but who still need assistance to live the life many of us take for granted.
“There are people on the outside looking in,” she said. “They want the same things we do: a job, a home, good friends.”
Davis announced a new fundraising initiative to the crowd – the Voices of Inclusion Society – whose first 25 contributors have already committed more than $25,000 as part of a Leadership Challenge. (See a list of those contributors below.) Community Living’s fundraising goal for 2016 is $150,000. Davis invited attendees at the breakfast to also join as founding members at one of three levels, committing $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 over five years.
Community Living Leadership Challenge contributors:
Michelle Ainsworth
Nikki Alexander & Stephen Shaw
Brenda Allan
Judy Clapp
Anne Collins
John and Debi Davis
Tish Firman
Scott Hayden
Joanne Henderson
Cathy Henry
Andrea Johnston
Debbie Kirwin
Tracey Kuusk
Herbert and Denise Law
Diane Lupton
Rosemary McGuire-Herman
Carolyn Misener
Paul Muldoon
Elizabeth Rice
Kevin Rows
Judith Ruan
Cathy Stroud
Carroll Sturgeon
Ray and Mary Ray Ward
Enid Young
Michael Young
Mathews Dinsdale and Clarke LLP
Mayor Scott Aitchison also announced that Community Living Huntsville will be one of three recipients of funds raised at the annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament in September.
Community Living Huntsville helps approximately 80 adults and 80 to 100 children in the community. They are fundraising to hire at least one person who will help support 10 to 15 more people who don’t meet Ministry-supported program criteria and therefore fall through the cracks.
To learn more about Community Living Huntsville, their website, email [email protected] or call 705-789-4543, or read one of these Doppler stories:
Stories of inclusion: Community Living Huntsville puts people first
Remembering an unlikely icon: bronze broom commemorates Donnie Eagles
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.
0 Comments