Imagine! Volunteers Make A Big Difference

Imagine! is a community-based organization. We were founded by members of our community, we often provide services in the community (as opposed to segregated settings), and we are supported by the community.

That community support is clearly illustrated by the many people who volunteer to help Imagine! meet its mission to provide tools and supports for individuals with developmental and related disabilities so they may live fulfilling lives in their homes and communities.

Imagine! volunteers assist our organization in many ways. For example, in the fiscal year 2010-2011, Imagine! used volunteers for:

Enhancing Services

During FY2011, 44 volunteers spent 4,617 hours working directly with individuals Imagine! serves. Overall, 88 individuals served in these and other non-direct service roles for a total of 5,687 volunteer hours. That is a 19.8% increase in volunteer hours from the previous year!

Committees and Councils

Five volunteers serve on Imagine!’s Human Rights Committee, which safeguards the rights of individuals receiving services by reviewing all investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Twelve serve on the Family Support Council, which provides parent perspective to Imagine!’s leadership and outreach to other parents. Ten volunteers help to orchestrate the Imagine! Celebration Dinner and Auction, the Imagine! Foundation’s annual fundraising event.

Governance

Imagine! is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 13 individuals who serve terms of four years with one option to renew. The Board meets monthly and provides both oversight and direction to the organization, guiding its service delivery, financial management, and long-term planning. Four committees (Services, Finance, Executive, and Board Recruitment) meet on a regular basis to provide leadership in specific areas.

The Imagine! Foundation has its own Board of Directors, composed of 22 individuals who serve a term of three years with the option to renew for one term. Their tasks include leading local fundraising efforts and networking on behalf of the organization.

During FY2011, members of these two Boards contributed a total of 1,507 hours of their time to the organization. In addition, 100% of members of both Boards contribute financially to Imagine!.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers – they make a big difference in our ability to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

If you are interested in volunteering for Imagine!, click here.

Imagine! and The Hungry Toad – Celebrating 20 Years Together

Since 1984, Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department has assisted people who have cognitive disabilities in finding gainful employment through supported employment services. Supported employment offers people who have a disability the opportunity to develop vital job skills and become active participants in their communities.

The benefits extend far beyond helping our clients, however. Businesses using our services are able to reduce recruitment and training expenses as they benefit from a diversified employee pool. Partnering with CORE/Labor Source is a “win-win” situation that is beneficial all around.

One business that embraced this mutually beneficial relationship early on was The Hungry Toad Pub and Restaurant in Boulder. This year marks the 20th anniversary of a CORE/Labor Source crew working there. Hungry Toad owner Terry Morton (pictured on the right with Imagine! consumer Tim Gray) has been a great advocate of our supported employment program and the people we serve.

When asked why he thinks the long term relationship has been so successful, Terry replied, “The crew is reliable and they do good work. That’s it in a nutshell.”

Thanks Terry and The Hungry Toad. We wish you continued success!

Wednesday Thanks!

Here’s this week’s roundup of donations in support of Imagine!’s mission:

•A donation from TRJ Financial, which was contributed as part of the April World Financial Group event to benefit Imagine!’s SmartHomes.

• A donation from David and Anne Hanson (customers of Mary Williams Fine Arts) who will not attending the July 24 Mary Williams Fine Arts Quick Draw event to support Imagine!, but still wanted to contribute.

• An in-kind gift of flower, vegetable, and fruit plants from The Flower Bin for CORE/Labor Source’s gardening class. Flower Bin also employes Imagine! clients. Thank them when you're there!

• An in-kind gift from John Haertling of HaertlingAwards.com for a more than 50% reduction on 15 board member plaques.

Thank you to all of our generous donors!

Mary Williams Fine Arts “Quick Draw” Event Supports Imagine!

Imagine! is delighted to have been chosen as the non-profit beneficiary of the upcoming Mary Williams Fine Arts “Quick Draw” event on July 24 on the grounds of a beautiful private estate in northwest Longmont.

During the afternoon approximately 40 of the Rocky Mountain Region’s most prominent painters will be challenged to create an original piece of artwork within a 90-minute period. At the end of the 90 minutes, the paintings will be auctioned off in a silent auction in an on-site gallery. Additional paintings from each of the artists will be available for purchase in the silent auction. Twenty percent of the sales of both the “Quick Draws” and the other artwork will go to Imagine!. In addition, Mary Williams Fine Arts will donate two framed reproduction “antique” posters, with all proceeds from the sales going to Imagine!.

Several community members have already stepped up to make donations to the event. Dave Query and the West End Tavern will donate all of the food and catering, Liquor Mart and Vine One will donate the wine, and Left Hand Brewing Company will donate the beer. Save-the-Date cards are being donated by Forrest Fleming at Instant Imprints in Longmont, and Sturtz and Copeland will provide flowers. Kristi Bartleson Stahli, a harpist from the University of Colorado School of Music, will complete the festivities. For more information, contact Mary Williams at 303-938-1588.

Want to get a sense of how cool this event this is? Check out the video below.



Many thanks to Mary Williams Fine Arts for their generous support of Imagine!’s mission.

Wednesday Thanks!

We started the new fiscal year off with a bang! Here’s a roundup of this week’s donations to the Imagine! Foundation:

Donations this week included:

• A grant of $2,000 from the Herbert Parker Trust at Wells Fargo for Dayspring’s Community Calendar Activities program (up from $1,000 last year!)

• $673 from the Tetra Tech Walk/Run to benefit Imagine! (thanks to Foundation Board member Julie Vlier for setting this up – check out this link for photos and more!)

• A payment from Mile High United Way (we received $68.63 total in FY 2011 from those who designated Imagine! through a United Way campaign at work.)

As always, thank you to all of our generous donors.

Thanks To Our Grant Donors

Imagine! is pleased to have received grants in FY 2011 of $10,000 or more from the Amgen Foundation, the Daniels Fund, the Safeway Foundation, the Western Digital Foundation, and several family foundations.

These grants have been used for our two SmartHomes, other 24-hour-care housing, Family Support Grants, general operating, a new Assistive Technology Lab, and Imagine!’s Out & About Summer Camp.

We are very grateful for the support of our generous community!

Tetra Tech Runs For Imagine!

Yesterday’s Tetra Tech Run for Imagine! was a resounding success! Here’s the report from Julie Vlier, an Imagine! Foundation Board member and the organizer of the event:

The weather was great for the Tetra Tech/Imagine! event yesterday. We were decked out, wearing some super T-shirts, too, thanks to Forrest (Fleming, Imagine! Foundation Board member) and Instant Imprints (see pictures below). All-in-all we received $673 in contributions!

After the event we convened at Left Hand Brewery and Eric (Wallace, Left Hand owner and former Foundation Board member) was kind enough to get us set up with cool beverages and a contribution to Imagine! for the drinks that were sold to our group! We also enjoyed Georgia Boys BBQ, and are planning on another $25 (+/-) from this new Longmont business.

Thanks to all involved, especially Julie for making it all happen. We really appreciate it!

Julie Vlier, Tetra Tech Manager of Water Resources, Imagine! Foundation board member, and the event organizer, is second from left.

Wednesday Thanks!

During the last full week of the fiscal year, we had several generous donations come in, including:

• Generous payments from Bob and Judy Charles and the Charles Family for Imagine!’s two SmartHomes.

• Jay and Kathy Montgomery’s check for the Billy Montgomery Community Room at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

• Micro Motion’s check for $5,000 for its Gold Sponsorship of the Celebration, which will be directed to the Charles Family SmartHome.

• The Boulder Central Optimist Club donated $200.

• The “Transcend $10,000” Imagine! employee donation program contributed $1,357.

• A gift from Foundation Emeritus board member Kathy Coyne.

As always, thanks so much to all of our generous donors!

New Fiscal Year Brings Changes To Foundation Board

The Imagine! Foundation elected four new officers at its Annual Meeting on June 14, 2011. Alexander (Sandy) Bracken was elected President, Walt Pounds was elected Vice President, Jay Montgomery was elected Secretary, and Lloyd Streit was elected Treasurer.


Alexander (Sandy) Bracken



Four new members joined the board of directors, bringing the total number of board members to 22. They are: Charles Holmes, Chris Leh, Rick Nelson, and Valorie Simpson. 



Dennis Paul and Eric Wallace retired from the board after each completing six years of service. Thanks to both for their dedicated service!



Committee Chairpersons for the 2011-2012 year are: Sandy Bracken, Strategic Planning/Nominating; Sue Deans, Marketing; Lloyd Streit, Finance; and Colene Van Winkle and Paige Lawrence, Imagine! Celebration.



Thanks, Tetra Tech!

The good folks at the Tetra Tech Longmont office are sponsoring a walk/run fundraising event for the Imagine! Foundation. The money raised will be directed towards the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. The event is next Wednesday, June 29th, at 4:00 PM. The race will begin on the St. Vrain Greenway and end at Left Hand Brewing Company!

Many thanks to Imagine! Foundation board member Julie Vlier for arranging this event, and to Imagine! Foundation board member Forrest Fleming and his company Instant Imprints for donating T-shirts.

Wednesday Thanks!

Today’s weekly roundup of checks we received this past week from our many generous supporters includes:

A donation from Jane Butcher in honor of Emeritus Foundation Board member Jack Stoakes. Jane’s first recorded gift to Imagine! was in 1991 -- long before the Foundation even existed.  Thanks so much, Jane!

A donation from Joe and Heather DiIorio, completing a three year pledge for the Billy Montgomery Room at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

A donation from Jane Mahoney.

We received in-kind gifts from Fabulous Finds Upscale Consignments and Robert Sarchet, with help from Leona Stoecker, resulting in a beautiful dining table for the Charles Family SmartHome. Read more about this great story in the SmartHomes blog.

We also received an in-kind gift of one courier trip for Imagine! (value $25.20) from Denver Boulder Couriers.  They give Imagine! approximately $150 in free courier trips each year.

Thanks to all our generous donors for their continued support of Imagine!’s mission.

Imagine! Success Story

Imagine!’s Innovations department is offering a new residential service option called the In Home Care Alternative. In this model, Innovations provides staff members for a consumer in the home of their family vs. requiring that a consumer move out of their home into a Staffed Site or Host Home. This model can be offered for both short term or long term commitments based on the individual needs of the consumer.

Read more about the model here.

We already have a success story to share with this new model. Please read the story below about Lindsey to find out more about this new approach to services.

Lindsey resides in our first successful In Home Care Alternative Home (or Family Model), and has grown tremendously since moving into this placement. 

When she first started in the Family Model, Lindsey struggled with trusting care providers and new people in her life, often isolating herself and fearing new experiences. The ability to be cared for in her home has given her the opportunity to interact with care providers and new people at her own comfort level and to feel safe in her environment. Since this move, she has slowly begun to trust care providers and allow new people in her space. She has improved in her socialization with community members and continues to find interest in new activities and adventures!

Improving cooking skills and socialization is important to Lindsey. Recently, a staff member from CORE/Labor Source reported; “Lindsey is amazing in cooking class. Today she helped me scoop the avocados and mix it all together. She served the guacamole to the other consumers and offered some to a member of the custodial crew. Lindsey is starting to make fun giggly jokes with us.” Another staff member said, “Today, I spent a few moments with Lindsey and she was funny, engaged, bringing up questions, and was conversational with staff members and just overall fun and smiley.”

Lindsey’s has made so much progress that her behavioral team is looking toward dismissing her needs in Imagine! Behavioral Health Services stating, “Lindsey has been making great strides in communicating her needs appropriately. Lindsey has also been able to use humor as a very useful tool in getting attention from her family and friends. It has been a pleasure working with Lindsey, her Innovations staff, her CORE/Labor Source staff, and her family. Lindsey’s success has truly been a team effort, with Lindsey at the helm.”

Lindsey’s success both at home and day program has been gradual. She has eased into a full five day schedule at CORE/Labor Source, including many classes such as yoga, art, music, and cooking, as well as some new interests such as science.

Lindsey has really shown me the value of patience and persistence, by overcoming her challenges at her own pace regardless of how quickly changes were made in her life. I have seen in her a great sense of humor and desire to help others since she has allowed me to get to know her.

Wednesday Thanks!

Today, we’d like to share with you some information on the generous donations to support our mission of serving those with developmental disabilities we’ve received in just the last week!

We received $1668.40 from Longmont Knights of Columbus. This money will be used for Dayspring's Community Calendar Activities Program.


We received a $1,000 grant from the Lynn and Helen Clark Fund at Guaranty Bank in Longmont. This money will be used to help support the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont.


We received an $800 grant from Qualcomm. Even better, Qualcomm provided 22 volunteers who stained our gazebo and cleaned and mulched the beds around Imagine!'s two office buildings in Lafayette. The grant was used for mulch for the project.


We received $800 from an individual donor for Innovations' foster care program.


We received $100 in a matching grant from the GE Foundation. The match was for a donation made by a friend of a member of Imagine!’s Board of Directors.


And finally, we received $25 from an individual who was helped by an Imagine! employee, who dumpster-dived to retrieve her glasses. It is a great story, read more about it here.

Thanks to all of our generous donors! We are so fortunate to live in such a caring and giving community.

Imagine! On TV

On May 13, world renowned sculptor and Imagine! consumer Alonzo Clemons, his caregiver Nancy Mason, and Imagine!’s own Gary Stebick appeared live on the “Colorado & Company” TV show (KUSA Channel 9 in Denver).

If you missed the segment, not to worry! Check it out below. In the clip, Alonzo demonstrates his amazing skills, creating a horse sculpture in less than ten minutes. Also in the clip, Gary does a great job explaining the depth and breadth of the services Imagine! provides to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Vote IBHS!

Imagine!’s Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) department has been nominated for a prestigious Community Foundation of Boulder County NOVA Award.

From now through June 11, you can vote for IBHS online to honor their unique (and vital) collaborative partnership with Mental Health Partners to improve services to people with a dual diagnosis of having a developmental disability and mental illness.

Click here to vote!

Here’s a little more information on why IBHS is such a worthy candidate for this award, taken from the nomination:

Some of the individuals in Imagine!'s care have mental illness in addition to their developmental disabilities. Mental Health Partners (MHP, formerly the Mental Health Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties) is responsible for the provision of mental health services to these individuals. However, individuals living with this dual diagnosis have needs that differ significantly from those of individuals with mental illness only -- specifically, needs for enhanced engagement, rapport building, and support in processing new information -- that were difficult for MHP to meet within its usual parameters of care. In 2005, Imagine! and MHP began developing a unique, collaborative partnership to improve the delivery of mental health services to local individuals with this dual diagnosis by enhancing communication and coordination among the client, his or her psychiatrist, mental health therapist, nurse, case manager, family members, and other significant sources of support. In 2006, Imagine!'s Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) division hired three clinical professionals with the necessary specialized skill set and launched IBHS Mental Health Supports. Through this program, clients receive routine care through Imagine!, and crisis care (e.g., hospitalizations or after-hours intervention), if necessary, through MHP. The two organizations engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure that the services are integrated to provide current best-practice supports to this group of clients.

The collaboration between Imagine! and MHP is the only one of its kind in Colorado and exemplifies innovative, "out of the box" thinking. Typically, services for these two populations are funded and delivered through highly segregated systems, but this collaboration integrates the dollars from both Medicaid and local sources and the services provided by both Imagine! and MHP and marshals additional community supports -- including family members and professional caregivers such as nurses and day habilitation program staff -- to provide comprehensive mental health services based on an understanding of the whole person.

Thanks to IBHS Mental Health Supports, more than 200 local individuals with this dual diagnosis currently receive expert mental health therapy without delay from a licensed professional with more than 15 years experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. They receive timely psychiatric assessment and intervention from physicians with more than 25 years of experience and expertise in treating individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury, and dementia. Each of these vulnerable members of the community benefits from enhanced communication between his or her psychiatrist, mental health therapist, and professional caregivers.

Congratulations to IBHS on being nominated for this honor, and don’t forget to vote!

Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont Open House

The Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont Open House was a great success. About 60 people attended. Local state representatives Claire Levy and Deb Gardner were there, along with benefactors Bob Charles III and Dale Charles. Thanks to Imagine! Foundation board members Leona Stoecker, Julie Vlier, and new board member Chris Leh for attending and bringing guests. And many thanks to the 16 staff members who made this event possible and also attended!

Sarah and Pramilla helped greet guests.

Loren played DJ for the event, using his computer to select songs.

New Foundation board member Chris Leh and Colorado State Representative Claire Levy.

Anthony showed off his computer skills to the guests.

Wes demonstrated his “Heads or Tails” game, which uses his computerized communication device to teach basic math skills.

SmartHome tech guru Alex Andrews demonstrated some of the home’s technology to Colorado State Representative Deb Gardner.

Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont benefactors Bob Charles III and Dale Charles.

Imagine! CEO Mark Emery enjoys a private chat with Sarah.

Support Imagine! While You Shop at iGive.com

If you shop online, you can also automatically raise money for Imagine!. iGive.com offers a free membership that allows you to shop as usual at many of your favorite online sites that will then donate a percentage of your purchase to Imagine!. iGive.com has 800+ stores to choose from including such familiar names as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Coldwater Creek, eBay, Eddie Bauer, Expedia, Kohl’s, Lands End, Nordstrom, Office Max, Petco, Sports Authority, and Staples.

When you are a member and you go to your favorite site, a small message box will drop down briefly to tell you what percentage of your purchase will go to Imagine!. It’s that easy! Imagine! has been receiving money from iGive.com since 2000 and has earned $1,063. However, this amount has been earned through just a handful of people. iGive.com suggests that the typical online shopper can generate $20-$40 per year for Imagine!.

We’d like to encourage everyone who shops online to consider joining iGive.com (remember – it’s free!) and designating Imagine! as the recipient of the online percentage. Each new member earns $5 for Imagine! right off the bat!

Click here to get started!

Imagine! Foster Parents Serve As Inspiration

Imagine!’s Innovations for Children Department has a Foster Care Program that is a therapeutic child placement agency that specializes in working with special needs children and at-risk youth with difficult behavioral and emotional challenges.

Today, we’d like to highlight one couple whose efforts to assist some of our most vulnerable citizens by acting as foster providers serve as an inspiration to all of us at the Imagine! Foundation.

Bill and Susan Long have been therapeutic foster providers for more than 20 years. They have served more than 40 children, providing the best care imaginable. They currently care for two children with developmental disabilities and are committed to helping them live to their potential until they turn 21. They provide a safe environment where the children know what to expect, and know what is expected of them.

Bill and Susan believe in a team approach, and make every effort possible to ensure that therapists, caseworkers, behavioral interventionists, and biological parents are all on the same page in regard to the child’s care and services. This allows each child to feel safe, and ensures a consistent environment and approach to their needs.

Bill and Susan work diligently with the biological family, supporting efforts to reunify when applicable. This includes sharing interventions that work, and ensuring that they are kept in the loop with school issues, mental health issues, and behavioral issues. Bill and Susan communicate extensively with the child’s school to ensure a common understanding of each child’s needs, and advocate for additional services as needed. They attend all school meetings and are the first to advocate for continued services and special accommodations.

When Bill and Susan are considering bringing other children into their home, the needs and the safety of the current children always come first. They are happy to help more children, but they are also cognizant of how essential it is to have a good fit. While Bill and Susan have been doing this for 20 years, they consistently seek new information and attend all of the trainings offered to them. They are open to the ideas of others, and seek out the opinion of the behaviorist and other staff members.

Bill and Susan are active with the kids, taking them on several family vacations a year, and providing the extended family experience through their many children and grandchildren. In fact, Bill and Susan enlisted all three of their biological children into being foster parents for children with high needs, setting an amazing example of dedication and caring for others. Their skill at advocacy has also heightened awareness for children with disabilities.

Bill and Susan currently serve two very challenging youth, both of whom have a developmental disability and a mental health diagnosis. They provide a calm and consistent approach as they deal with self-injurious behaviors, hours of tantrums, and aggressiveness on a daily basis. They love the kids, but they also see themselves as professionals and hold themselves to high expectations. They go out of their way to include the children in all activities that can help build their social skills and integrate them into the community. Most people would not volunteer to take these kids on a three week vacation in an RV, but they do! Every summer! And, the kids LOVE it.

Imagine!'s IBHS Nominated For NOVA Award

Imagine!’s IBHS Mental Health Supports program has just been nominated for The Community Foundation of Boulder County NOVA award! Check out the information from the nomination below to learn more about this innovative collaboration.

The mission of Imagine! is to create and offer innovative supports to people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical, and health related needs so they may live fulfilling lives of independence and quality in their homes and communities. Imagine!’s guiding philosophy is that all individuals, regardless of ability or disability, have talents and strengths that make them vital members of their communities.

Since 1963, Imagine! has coordinated care for local people of all ages who have developmental delays or disabilities. This care is usually initiated at birth and – for those clients who are eventually diagnosed with a disability – it continues until the end of life.

Some of the individuals in Imagine!'s care have mental illness in addition to their developmental disabilities. Mental Health Partners (MHP, formerly the Mental Health Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties) is responsible for the provision of mental health services to these individuals. However, individuals living with this dual diagnosis have needs that differ significantly from those of individuals with mental illness only -- specifically, needs for enhanced engagement, rapport building, and support in processing new information -- that were difficult for MHP to meet within its usual parameters of care. In 2005, Imagine! and MHP began developing a unique, collaborative partnership to improve the delivery of mental health services to local individuals with this dual diagnosis by enhancing communication and coordination among the client, his or her psychiatrist, mental health therapist, nurse, case manager, family members, and other significant sources of support. In 2006, Imagine!'s Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) division hired three clinical professionals with the necessary specialized skill set and launched IBHS Mental Health Supports. Through this program, clients receive routine care through Imagine!, and crisis care (e.g., hospitalizations or after-hours intervention), if necessary, through MHP. The two organizations engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure that the services are integrated to provide current best-practice supports to this group of clients.

The collaboration between Imagine! and MHP is the only one of its kind in Colorado and exemplifies innovative, "out of the box" thinking. Typically, services for these two populations are funded and delivered through highly segregated systems, but this collaboration integrates the dollars from both Medicaid and local sources and the services provided by both Imagine! and MHP and marshals additional community supports -- including family members and professional caregivers such as nurses and day habilitation program staff -- to provide comprehensive mental health services based on an understanding of the whole person.

Thanks to IBHS Mental Health Supports, more than 200 local individuals with this dual diagnosis currently receive expert mental health therapy without delay from a licensed professional with more than 15 years experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. They receive timely psychiatric assessment and intervention from physicians with more than 25 years of experience and expertise in treating individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury, and dementia. Each of these vulnerable members of the community benefits from enhanced communication between his or her psychiatrist, mental health therapist, and professional caregivers.

Imagine!'s analysis of medication data since the program began shows that each year, the number of clients whose prescription medications decreased or were discontinued exceeded (by 2.4 - 15.8%) those whose medications increased. In addition, many clients were transitioned to newer medications with fewer side effects. Further, hospital admissions have decreased by 67% since the program began, and the overall cost for inpatient hospitalization for this population within the service area has been cut in half. These trends are significant for three reasons. First, they indicate that clients have achieved greater stability as a result of the program and have required less pharmacological intervention. Second, they show that public resources are being managed more judiciously and effectively since the program began. Third, they reflect established best practices and progress toward collective goals in the field of mental health services.

Imagine! and MHP are committed to continuing and strengthening this highly successful partnership. Both organizations are dedicated to enhancing the collaboration between professional and personal caregivers and remaining on the cutting edge of evidence-based practices in the field of mental health supports in order to further improve outcomes. As funding for services for both individuals with mental illness and individuals with developmental disabilities decreases, the local population requiring both types of services is increasing. Optimal engagement of all available supports and optimal treatment regimes to facilitate the ongoing emotional stability of each client will be necessary if future financial resources are to be adequate to meet the growing need.

Imagine!’s Community Impact

So many generous individuals, foundations, and companies have supported Imagine! and its mission over the years.

Today, we’d like to share some information about the kind of impact Imagine! has on its community, and demonstrate why your support is so vital.

Last year, Imagine!:

• helped 327 babies and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays make progress toward their individual developmental goals (e.g., improved communication skills, improved fine or gross motor skills, or improved social skills);

• managed foster placements for 45 children whose special needs could not be met by their birth parents;

• helped 54 school-aged children with developmental disabilities to learn vital socialization skills to help them to participate more fully in society, while affording their parents the peace of mind that comes with safe and appropriate childcare during work hours;

• provided job training, placement, coaching, and supervision for 106 adults with developmental disabilities;

• promoted the growth and safety of 306 local adults with developmental disabilities by enabling them to participate in enriching and therapeutic activities in the community;

• provided information and referrals to services to 1,279 families providing at-home care of a person with a developmental disability;

• helped parents of 55 children with autism spectrum disorders select and pay for services such as behavioral, speech, or occupational therapy;

• distributed $1,185,668.62 to caregivers of 583 individuals with developmental disabilities living at home to help pay for the services and supports that were most important to their families, such as respite care, medical or dental care, therapies, or devices to help the individual with special needs function better at school or work;

• provided comprehensive mental health services to 218 individuals with dual (mental illness/developmental disability) diagnoses;

• provided a broad range of behavioral health services to 105 individuals and educated their parents and caregivers about ways to build cooperative behavior;

• managed host home placements for 91 adults with developmental disabilities; and

• provided 24-hour comprehensive care to 57 adults with developmental disabilities, including seniors and medically fragile individuals.

Unfortunately, budget cuts and regulatory changes have made it increasingly difficult to continue to provide so many services to so many people in need. That is why 10 years ago the Imagine! Foundation was created: to support the Imagine! organization through fundraising and education. The Foundation has raised more than $4,000,000 to date, enhancing Imagine!’s ability to serve some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you for your continued support!