You are an important part of our success
December 18, 2017
By Brie Geurink, Vice President of Advancement
Together we open minds and change lives – and you are an important part of our success.
Greg thanks you. He is currently working with Opportunity Partners staff to obtain a job in the community. While he is moving toward his goal of independent employment, he is also working on our Pilot Knob production floor. He is proud of his accomplishments, loves Opportunity Partners and is hopeful for the future.
Lindsey thanks you. While in her careers class at the Anoka Service Center, she took a chance and applied for an independent job. Although she was initially reluctant to leave Opportunity Partners’ classes, she was able to step out of her comfort zone. After excelling in her interview, she landed a job at Aramark! Lindsey is a model employee, loves her job and her manager sings her praises.
Service Coordinator Shannon says, “Lindsey is the embodiment of choice because she learned through experience that she chooses the path she wants to take in life. She is an inspiration to those around her.”
Fast forward several months and Lindsey is ready to leave Opportunity Partners altogether. While we will miss her, we are happy that our mission has helped Lindsey’s independence
Greg thanks you. Greg is approaching his one-year anniversary at McDonald’s. Over the past year, he has proven himself as a valuable employee and added more responsibilities to his job description. However, Greg’s story is much more special. He is the very first person at Opportunity Partners – Karlins Center to acquire an independent job. Since then, he has inspired two other people at Karlins to pursue community employment – something they would have otherwise thought impossible.
Greg is a trailblazer and an inspiration. “I want people to know that it’s amazing and that other people can do it as well as I can,” he says.
This is the life we all deserve. To be valued. To be recognized. To be celebrated for our abilities, not our disabilities. This holiday season, you can help us continue to open minds and change even more lives.
By investing in Opportunity Partners, you invest in people’s lives. You help individuals build themselves up and they, in turn, build up our community. Here are just a few examples of what your gift can do:
• $50 pays for a cooking activity at one of our residences
• $100 covers one semester of art supplies for a Learning Options class
• $250 provides cultural opportunities, such as fees for a music class
• $500 helps with technology skills, such as taking a computer class to build work skills
• $1,000 provides job training, such as a partial scholarship for a Career Learning Pathway
• $1,500 pays for a month of gas for our vans to transport Supported Employment Teams working in the community
• $2,500 increases independent living by helping with costs to install new technology in one of our residences
Our fiscal year ends on December 31. Make a difference today by making a gift online.
Thank you for opening minds and changing lives – together.