On Sunday, May 29, Team DDRC participated in the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon. Whether walking, running, or cheering everyone on, we worked to raise awareness about inclusion and to fund our children’s book. The team had a blast, and would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support.
Here are some of the shots from the day:
June 3 was planting day at the Rutland Park Community Garden, and the DDRC Gardening Club did a great job! This year, we’ll be growing a “salad garden,” with a wonderful assortment of fresh strawberries, lettuce, parsley, oregano, radishes, red cauliflower, and more!
Check out the work of our avid gardeners:
The Calgary Marathon is on May 29, and we’re looking for your support! Team DDRC is hoping to meet a fundraising goal of $10,000 to print and distribute an educational children’s book created by the DDRC.
Everyone Belongs: A Guide to Developmental Disabilities uses fun and interactive activites to introduce children to the concepts of disabilities and inclusion. It is designed to be completed by children in class with their teacher and peers, or at home with their parents or guardians. The purpose of this resource is to raise awareness about developmental disabilities, and to encourage children to remember that everyone belongs in our communities.
We hope to share this book with children across Canada. With your help, we can make this a reality! Interested in donating to Team DDRC? You can find our team page here.
Don’t forget! If you want to walk or run with Team DDRC, you can register for the race of your choice on the Calgary Marathon’s website.
Back in February, we told you about how Morgan from our PACE team had earned the opportunity to volunteer at the Juno Awards Gala on April 2, 2016. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:
My experience was amazing! It was my first time ever at the Juno Awards, and it was an experience of a lifetime. I was a volunteer welcoming the guests and celebrities as they entered the reception and ceremony. After I finished volunteering, I got to watch the ceremony from backstage with Kim [Community Resource Worker]. Before the Juno Awards, I had to go to two meetings to learn about the rules. My favourite part was when Justin Bieber won the Fan Choice Award.
With a history spanning 64 years, the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary has a lot to be proud of. Here are some of our successes.
The DDRC’s 2015 Winter Fundraising Campaign has come to a close, and we are proud to announce that together, 127 donors were able to raise $22,483 for the Ability Fund. This new initiative helps to remove financial barriers and promotes community participation for our clients in a variety of ways.
The Ability Fund supports DDRC clients by covering the cost of joining a new club, attending a conference, taking a course, purchasing supplies, transportation expenses, or participating in a community activity.
We have already successfully used the Ability Fund to get our clients involved in the community. Thanks to our generous donors, nine DDRC clients were able to attend a workshop on greener living. Our clients learned how to reduce waste, and had discussions about the importance of reusing and the meaning of social responsibility.
We were also able to purchase a block of tickets for DDRC clients to attend the Picture This…Film Festival (PTFF). This festival showcases films that are about disability as well as films that were produced, directed or written by people with disabilities. With over 43 films of various lengths and topics, there is something for everyone.
The PTFF is held at Calgary SCOPE Society and runs from March 16 to 18, 2016. More information about the festival and tickets for this year’s screenings can be found at http://www.ptff.org/.