Dia del Sol Benefits People with Disabilities

Dia del Sol 2018, held at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, was a huge success. Thank you to the Beach & Country Guild for producing this awesome event to benefit UCP San Diego and people with disabilities.

It was an incredible day of fun, food, friends and fashion! Here's the video:

 

City Fire Fighters & Celebs Serve It Up At UCP's 35th Annual Luncheon 

For the 35th year in a row, the San Diego City Fire Fighters graciously donated their financial support as “Title Sponsor” to the always-wild and crazy “Fire Fighters and Friends” Celebrity Waiters Luncheon. This year’s edition was held on a sunny work day in late September and patrons were treated to good food, lots of local and Hollywood stars and the high energy of many San Diego City Fire Fighters, bayside at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa.

Susan DeVincent from KyXy- FM 96.5 and Comedian Russ T. Nailz co-hosted the event and kept the festivities going at a lively pace. Tips were given freely and with special live auctions, over $58,000 was raised for the cause.

UCP would like to thank our local media partners KyXy 96.5 FM, Location Edit, KUSI News and the San Diego Community Newspaper Group for their promotional efforts. We salute our Hollywood and local celebrities that included such personalities as actor Christopher Knight, also known as "Peter Brady" on The Brady Bunch, actor Shawn Christian ("Dr. Daniel Jonas" on Days Of Our Lives"), actress Debbe Dunning, known as the "Tool Time Girl" on Home Improvement, Shotgun Tom Kelly, renowned disc jockey and Hollywood Walk of Fame Star recipient, actor Peter Kwong ("Rain" in Big Trouble in Little China), actor JC Valleroy, who played "Young Louie" in the film UNBROKEN, plus Leonardo DiCaprio & Austin Powers look-a-likes, just to name a few.

UCP also thanks the staff of the Coronado Marriott Resort & Spa for their assistance and cooperation and the following organizations, companies and individuals for their support: Berkshire Hathaway HC, Misty Thompson & Melody Morgan and the San Diego Enforcers.

Thanks again for making the Celebrity Waiters luncheon an afternoon of “fun in the sun!” Here's the video:

 

36th Annual Golf Classic Results

On Monday, August 20th, the Annual UCP Golf Classic took place at The El Camino Country Club in Oceanside. Golfers hit the links in bright sunshine and did their best to conquer a challenging course, while raising $57,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County.

Following an afternoon of play, golfers were treated to dinner, a live auction and the awards banquet hosted by comedian Russ T. Nailz.

Title sponsor for this year’s event was Rancho Mesa Insurance. Associate sponsors included: The Land Stewards, Rose Munns and Chin, Location Edit, Enterprise Truck Rental, An-Wil Erosion Control, El Camino Rental, Herc Rentals and Bob Stall Chevrolet – La Mesa.

UCP also thanks General Manager Gary Glaser from the El Camino Country Club, his excellent staff and all the participants and supporters that came out to this signature event. 

View the photo album. Here's the video:

 

Find Bargains at UCP Thrift Stores!

When you shop at UCP Thrift Stores, you are supporting our programs and services for people with disabilities.   Info/Locations/Hours

UCP Day "Rockets" To Success!

Thank you to our UCP Day 2018 participants! We had another great year and our “Rocket the Raccoon” theme was very popular! 

A huge thanks goes out to all the company coordinators who did a wonderful job organizing and processing all of the UCP Day orders.  We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — UCP cannot do this without your help and support! 

We deeply appreciate all of the dedicated companies who have supported UCP for so many years in San Diego County — and a life without limits for people with disabilities! 

Our top 5 companies this year were:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd    $3,785
Higgs, Fletcher, Mack LLP    $2,220
UCP North County    $2,126
Nan-McKay & Associates    $1,460
Sheraton La Jolla    $740

 

CECO Grant Celebrates Importance of Play

Play! It is an essential part of all children's development. Play is how children learn to socialize, to think, to solve problems, to mature and most importantly, to have fun. Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their family and the world. 

For the second year in a row, UCP was the recipient of a generous grant from the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) to purchase adaptive toys for our popular Toy Library.  Adaptive toys are designed with easy to push buttons, switches, lights, music, and vibration. Their unique design is the perfect way for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities to experience the joy of play. 

Adaptive toys range in price from $80 to as much as $450. Having them available for loan provides children an opportunity to play with specialized toys without the costly purchase. With the generous support of the CECO, UCP was able to add even more adaptive toys to our library. 

Here are some of the latest comments from families who checked out the amazing toys we have available: 

"My child is really enjoying the switch toys. They have helped her discover cause and effect."

“I’m glad our son can play with toys he can actually enjoy.”

“These toys stimulate their cognitive skills and creativity."

Click here for more information on UCP's Toy Library.

 

Regale in the Ranch

A huge thank you to the Beach & Country Guild for producing the 6th Annual Regale in the Ranch to benefit UCP San Diego. Here's a look:

 

UCP Welcomes MobilityWorks!

UCP is proud to welcome MobilityWorks as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2018 No Limits 5K Walk & Roll. This annual event features a gentle 5K walk & roll around beautiful Mission Bay Park and has everything you’re looking for to start off a great fall day, including music, food, fun and friends.

The 2018 event will be held on October 13 at De Anza Cove on Mission Bay.

View pictures and video from the 2017 Walk.

 

We're Celebrating 60!

UCP is an agency committed to serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and their families since 1958.

Working throughout the years to improve services with every step, UCP has program centers in San Diego and Escondido and numerous community-based programs serving hundreds of local people on a daily basis.

Whether assisting someone in finding their first job, helping a child express him or herself through technology, connecting parents and individuals to support one another, or breaking down architectural and attitudinal barriers so all people can fully participate in our community, UCP helps create a world where dreams guide – lives are fulfilled and anything is possible.

"This level of longevity is due to the generous support of many individuals, organizations
and companies who have become involved over the course of many years," said Executive Director David Carucci. "But our work is nowhere near finished and we look forward to our community's involvement in the months and years ahead." 

We invite you to join us in this pursuit and invest in the power of human potential. Make a donation.

 

Shop, Donate Items To UCP Thrift Stores

Did you know that UCP San Diego owns and operates 3 local thrift stores? When you shop at or donate to UCP Thrift Stores, you're supporting UCP programs that change lives.

Our entrepreneurial spirit shines brightly as the UCP Thrift Stores also work together with UCP San Diego to offer a training ground and first-time employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

UCP Thrift Stores in City Heights, Chula Vista and Pacific Beach offer a unique shopping experience for customers — from vintage clothing and accessories to everyday fashions, household items, furniture and antiques.

When you shop at UCP Thrift Stores, you're directly benefiting thousands of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in San Diego County. You're helping your neighbors become independent, find employment and become full members of society.

Click here to find our locations and get item donation drop-off an pickup information. Like our Thrift Stores on Facebook or follow on Twitter for special offers and exclusive coupons.

UCP Overview: Life Without Limits

Here's a look at what we do:

 

Shop AmazonSmile and Support UCP

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County every time you shop, at no cost to you.

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to UCP.

To shop at AmazonSmile simply click here from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping.

Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages.

You use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.

Click Here to start shopping. Please tell your friends and family about this easy (and free) way to support UCP San Diego.

 

New Phone? Donate Your Old One To UCP!

Clean out that junk drawer and help United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County at the same time. UCP has partnered with SecondWave Recycling to provide you with an EASY and FREE way to donate your old cell phones, PDAs and tablets.

SecondWave Recycling is an environmentally and socially responsible organization that partners with non-profits to support their fundraising efforts. Old phones may seem useless but they contain valuable, renewable materials that can be used in the next generation of phones.

You can drop off your old cell phones, PDAs and tablets at a UCP Thrift Store in City Heights, Pacific Beach or Chula Vista. You can also click here to print a free USPS pre-paid shipping label or request a free pre-paid envelope. Be sure to type in "UCP" as your charity.

Properly disposing of your old devices will keep them out of landfills and help people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities by funding UCP's programs and services.

 

“Who I Am” Disability Employment Awareness

At work, it's what people CAN do that matters.

United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County is proud to partner with The U.S. Department of Labor to launch a new public service announcement as part of the Campaign for Disability Employment. The campaign encourages employers to look beyond individual disabilities to the potential in each candidate.

“Who I Am” features our Celebrity Ambassador, actor R. J. Mitte, along with eight other people from all walks of life. Mitte, featured in the hit series “Breaking Bad," has cerebral palsy.

Rather than being defined solely by their disability, each of these individuals is the sum of their many life roles—which includes working in jobs they love.

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace.

UCP partners with San Diego County employers to offer jobs to people with disabilities. If you have a job available, call us at (858) 571-7803 or contact David Drazenovich (San Diego) at ddrazenovich@ucpsd.org or Gill Hennessey (North County) at ghennessey@ucpsd.org.

Our mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

 

New Voice Options Program

An exciting new pilot speech technology program of the California Public Utilities Commission in partnership with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, Voice Options, is now available at UCP's Assistive Technology Center.

Voice Options offers iPads with speech applications to people with speech disabilities for short and long-term loans.

Californians who are not able to speak or have difficulty speaking may borrow iPads with speech applications to determine if using an iPad increases their ability to communicate.

Individuals may borrow an iPad for up to 30 days to determine if using a speech app increases their ability to communicate. If the user determines a speech app on the iPad works well for them, they may apply for a long-term loan of the device and their favorite speech app.

The response to Voice Options in San Diego has been remarkable, and already there is a two to three month waiting list. To learn more or to schedule a demonstration, contact Maiko Yoshida at (858) 278-5420 x 121 or myoshida@ucpsd.org.

 

 

 

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Community News

• Our mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities.
  
  
• UCP is local, providing Adult Day Programs in both San Diego and Escondido, Assistive Technology, Children's Services including a Toy Lending Library, Equipment Recycling, Family Support, Grants & Funding, Information & Referral and Respitality.
  
  
• Agency-wide, UCP serves nearly 7,000 people in San Diego County every year through our programs and services.