Graciously giving of herself

Abilities United has thousands of participants and each one of them has an important story to tell including Jessica, who doesn’t have a spare moment. Between volunteer commitments, her active social life and her Independent Living Skills work at Abilities United, she has a full schedule.

For several years Jessica has been a volunteer the San Jose Blind Center. She assists others and does office work. At the BOK Horse Ranch Jessica gardens, cares for the horses, and does a variety of other tasks.  One of Jessica’s biggest accomplishments is her job as a counselor in training at Via West. Jess works with the counselors and the children at the camp. “It makes me feel good to help others,” she says proudly.

Jessica is a very welcome addition to the camp and she loves her work. Another contribution Jessica makes is her regular donation to Locks of Love. She graciously gives her hair to others. Jessica is definitely making a difference in the world one day

at a time. 

And Jessica's name and photo is in the Mercury News!  Check it out!

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21037947/via-wests-career-week-cupertino-caters-special-needs

Abilities United Collaborates with Cisco to Create a Unique Virtual Art Auction; Original Works of Art Purchased Worldwide in an Online Gallery Created with Cisco Technology

For the first time, dozens of original works of art by artists from Abilities United were displayed and auctioned in a virtual gallery made possible by a Cisco collaboration platform. From June 18 until June 29, Abilities United worked with a Cisco advocacy group focused on helping children with special needs to auction original works of art by artists from Abilities United in an innovative online site open to Cisco employees worldwide. By the end of the event, all 27 pieces were sold using a technology that made access possible to thousands of potential buyers. The art sales totaled $2,500 and all proceeds go directly to the artists.

Traditionally, this artwork has been exhibited through community partnerships at business offices, government buildings, coffee shops, libraries, and art galleries all over the Bay Area, from San Jose north throughout the Peninsula and over to Berkeley.  Due to the collaboration with Cisco using the Cisco WebEx® Social collaboration platform, Cisco employees could easily view and purchase art from their desktop regardless of where they live or time of day. 

Pat Romzek, Cisco Vice President for Global Market Development, Collaboration Solutions said: “By bringing together human and technology networks, Cisco and Abilities United were able to virtually showcase meaningful art to people around the world, multiplying the impact of this unique auction and driving awareness for an important cause.  Cisco and our employees are proud to help Abilities United serve the many families with special needs children in the Bay Area.” 

The online exhibit was exclusively open to Cisco employees for this inaugural virtual auction, but the agency is evaluating a broader public adoption of the virtual exhibit for the future. The original works showcased in the virtual art auction included watercolor, acrylic, pencil and three-dimensional pieces
Abilities United artists created these works of art under the direction of teachers from Abilities United, Art for Well Being and the Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, CSMA (Community School of Music and Art) in Mountain View, and ArtReach in Daly City. These artists with developmental disabilities learned a variety of techniques using different media.  The creative process enabled them to further develop fine motor skills and concentrate on the task.  The results are a remarkable demonstration of skill and artistic expression that communicate the creator’s meaning to viewers.

Design Loft proprietor, Hellen Hsieh, is the art curator volunteer of Abilities United and sees great promise in expanding this new virtual approach. “I want more people to see the beautiful artwork individuals with disabilities are capable of creating; to see their talent and ability rather than their disability.”

If you are interested in purchasing or exhibiting artwork by artists from Abilities United please contact wendy@AbilitiesUnited or 650-618-3319

You can see some of the art on the Abilities United Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/AbilitiesUnited.org

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Marketing Director, Abilities United

Volunteers win 2nd Place for their film featuring Abilities United After-School Socialization

Congratulations to Nikki Hashani and Hannah Hansen on winning 2nd place for their film "The Path to Integration" which features the Abilities United After-School Socialization students and staff!  All of us at Abilities United thank Nikki and Hannah  for their volunteer work with the After-School Socialization program and for selecting us to be the topic of their award winning movie. Their experience working with the the program motivated them to create their 10 minute movie "The Path to Integration".  

We love the final results of their movie but more importantly their film community loves it too.  The two students from Mountain View/Los Altos High Schools' Freestyle Academy submitted their film to the Fifth Annual Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest (SI DocFest).  They were selected from 300 entries to participate in the semi-final judging held at the Camera 12 Cinemas held Saturday, April 28, 2012.  Thirteen of the films made it to the semi-finals and "The Path to Integration, won second place!  

Clearly, their movie, which features the Abilities United After-School Socialization educational resources for students with disabilities, impressed the judges and audience. Nikki and Hannah will share the $6,000 award was shared with Mountain View/Los Altos High Schools' Freestyle Academy and Abilities United of Palo Alto.

So, Nikki and Hannah, thank you for your volunteer work, your promotion of Abilities United and children who receive services, and for your $2,000 donation!

We also hear that Nikki and Hannah will submit their movie to the Palo Alto Independent Film Festival so check back for updates on the success of this very talented team of film makers!

We'll post the video online when it is available but until then you can learn more at http://sidocfest.com/

Until then, here is MarketWatch story about the SI Doc Festival and the winners...
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/top-films-at-si-docfest-2012-win-28000-in-awards-2012-05-03

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Marketing Director

I live on my own, and I work in our community...I’m a participant at Abilities United.

I live on my own, and I work in our community. My name is Martin Odian. I’m

a participant at Abilities United. I’d like to tell you about myself and the experience

I’ve had at Abilities United.

In 2009, at age 25, I started as a participant in the Independent Living Skills program.

I’ve learned a lot of new things since I joined Abilities United. My Adult Services

specialist, Patrick, has helped me learn more about cleaning and cooking, and I really

enjoy living in my own studio apartment.

I work at the Chevron gas station right next door to my apartment. The job involves

a lot of responsibility, and I love it! Each morning at 7 am, I check the gas station and

call Chevron with our inventory. I also work as a cashier and am often the only

employee at the station.

My most favorite thing is being able to go to public policy workshops in Sacramento.

I’m really excited to be doing this! Patrick has helped me establish an

Advocacy Group with other Abilities United participants, and I really enjoy talking and

working with others around the state. I try to advocate for change to help convince

Sacramento in times of very tight budgets to continue and increase state support for services

such as organizations like Abilities United provide to people with disabilities.

Please donate to Abilities United to keep the services we have and help people who need the services.

Abilities United provides good quality services from people who know how to help.

I encourage you to donate to Abilities United now and in the years ahead. Without Abilities United, we

wouldn’t have the good quality services we need. Please join me and give what you can to support our agency!

Thank you!

Martin Odian

Submitted by Martin Odian, participant in Abilities United Independent Living Skills

timing is everything...in so many ways

I had the pleasure of touring a potential volunteer today and had two wonderful, unexpected experiences.

When the volunteer arrived, I asked why he chose Abilities United for his volunteer work when there are so many other organizations to choose. He told me his personal story which began in 1976 he was a high school basketball player. He and his team came to Abilities United to teach the after school students how to play basketball in preparation for Special Olympics. He had a wonderful time and enjoyed working with the students. They impressed him with their energy and eagerness to learn. Having left an indelible mark on him and his life, he continued to think about that group of kids, his 4 hour long teaching experience, and Abilities United for all these years. Now, 35 years later, he finds himself with more time to donate to a nonprofit agency. He said "I always had Abilities United in the back of my mind and wanted to be able to volunteer and contribute what I can to the organization. Those kids really impressed me. Now I have the time and resources to contribute. I hope I can make a difference. They made a difference in my life."

While touring this volunteer, one of the men in the Day Activities program came up to greet us. I have know this man for years and he has always come up to greet visitors but would grab a person's hand and hold on tight. I was surprised, thrilled, and impressed when he walked up to the visitor, reached out his hand, and gently shoot his hand and released his grip within seconds. Wow, what a change in just a few months! I was blown away and learned to always expect the unexpected each time I see the program participants. Each day they are learning new things... it may take a while to "get it", but then suddenly it will "click" and voila, they have acquired and perfected a new skill. This man was proof of the importance of practicing over and over again an act as common place as shaking hands. Learning such skills is an individual accomplishment and something we need to appreciate, celebrate and value in all people. All people have the ability to learn new things...everyone just learns at their own pace...but they will learn given the instruction that works for their learning style.

What an unexpectedly delightful and educational tour this turned out to be for me and apparently, our new volunteer! If you are interested in seeing Abilities United in action and meeting the individuals who make this organization the wonderful community resource that it is, contact 650-494-0550 or info@AbilitiesUnited.org

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Marketing Director

Cafe Zoe a huge, profitable success for artists!

Please join everyone at Abilities United in congratulating the artists (all participants in Abilities United Independent Living Skills program) who sold their original works of art to community members and patrons of Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park. They are obviously very talented...their combined sales of eight pieces earned them a total of $1,200!

Michael sold three pieces at Cafe Zoe which brings him to eight pieces sold in the last 5 months! Michael has earned approximately $2,000 for his art!

Judy sold three pieces for a total of 5 pieces in the last 3 months...over $500 earned from her art.

Joseph's "Stanford Hoover Tower" sold at Cafe Zoe. Over the past 5 years Joseph has sold 5 original works of art to local art lovers.

Xenia's "Slipper" sold as well as another at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon auction.

In addition to congratulating these talented individuals, if you ever happen to be the Cafe Zoe area (1929 Menalto Avenue in Menlo Park) please stop in and thank the staff and owner Kathleen Daly for their wonderful support of the artists. Here is what Kathleen had to say about the exhibit, "The show has been a favorite. And the buzz has definitely created some new faces. I would like to make sure we plan to have this as an annual event." They have already scheduled the second annual Abilities United art exhibit for the month of January 2013!

Art by dozens of artists from Abilities United is also on display at several other local locations this month. The list can be found online http://www.abilitiesunited.org/events and http://www.facebook.com/AbilitiesUnited.org?ref=ts and below:

Woodside Public Library
3140 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-0147

Family Chiropractic Center
949 Sherwood Avenue
Los Altos, CA 94022
650-949-3636

San Carlos Library
610 Elm St
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 591-0341

Silicon Valley Community Foundation
2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 450-5400

Peets Coffee & Tea

2600 Broadway Avenue

Redwood City, CA
(650)362-1000
Milestones Preschool art exhibit
Palo Alto Children's Library
1276 Harriet Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 329-2134

We welcome the opportunity to display these delightful and beautiful works of art throughout the community so if you have any possible exhibit locations please contactwendy@AbilitiesUnited.org or 650-618-3319

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Director of Marketing, Abilities United

Mountain View resident, Design Loft owner, Hellen Hsieh receives the President’s Volunteer Service award for her design volunteer service with Abiliti

Abilities United is proud to present Hellen Hsieh of Mountain View, who is a two year volunteer with Abilities United (which serves Santa Clara and San Mateo residents with disabilities), the President’s Volunteer Service Call to Action http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tg/pvsainfo/dspAboutAwards.cfm for her over 200 hours of volunteer work as the art curator for Abilities United http://www.AbilitiesUnited.org

Hellen came to Abilities United in January 2010. She found the “art curator” position on VolunteerMatch. As the proprietor of Design Loft in Mountain View, she wanted to share her design and artist skills to benefit people with disabilities.

The work Hellen does promotes the artist talents of all the artists at Abilities United from all the service areas and programs. Her interior design background and skills make each piece of art shine. Using primarily donated frames and mat boards, Hellen painstaking chooses the frame style, and mat color and cuts the mat to best compliment the artwork. Because the pieces are so beautifully and professionally presented, the art sells more quickly and for a higher price than could be commanded without the frames. Since Hellen has volunteered at Abilities United and has helped increase the number of art exhibits in the community, art appreciators throughout the Bay Area have purchased over 50 original works from the artists. Because Hellen volunteers her time and utilizes donated materials, 100% of the sale can go the artist.

The President’s Volunteer Service award is a very unique and prestigious award as it takes many hours of consistent and continual volunteer work for one individual to donate over 200 hours of community service. Although President Obama won't be present, Hellen Hsieh will receive an official letter, certificate and pin from President Obama and the White House. Staff and participants will be present to congratulate Hellen.

Abilities United held a casual award ceremony to present the awards to Hellen on Monday, January 9, 2012. Hellen was thrilled and totally surprised to learn that the bell ringing ceremony was for her. After receiving her award, gifts and a few rounds of applause and accolades, Hellen got back to work installing 40 original works of art by artists of Abilities United at Zoe's Cafe in Menlo Park 1929 MenAlto Avenue http://www.cafezoemenlopark.com/

Ms. Hsieh explains her passion for promoting the art created by people with developmental disabilities; “I want other people to see the beautiful artwork individuals with disabilities are capable of creating; to help people see their talent and ability rather than their disability. This is an opportunity to give these artists a public space to display their work since they normally don't get to exhibit in galleries.” In 2010, she featured over 30 original works of art by artists from Abilities United at the Design Loft public grand opening. Hellen has also volunteered her interior design skills to renovate the Adult Day Activities staff office, which is a fun and cheering red, black and white theme complimenting the Abilities United brand.

On behalf of everyone involved with Abilities United, many many thanks to Hellen for her great spirit, commitment, and contribution to people with developmental disabilities!

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl