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AUGUST 6, 2007
FRIENDSHIP, FUN AND FAMILY GRANT

The Arc of Philadelphia was awarded a $10,000 mini-grant from the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services.  This funding will support the implementation of a “peer mentoring” initiative for youth with and without disabilities, as well as community outreach efforts.

For the “Friendship, Fun, and Family” initiative, The Arc of Philadelphia will partner with Deliverance Evangelistic Church to recruit youth with disabilities to take part in drama and fitness activities, where they will receive any needed support from their peers without disabilities, and hopefully form friendships.  The goal is for youth of varying ability to engage and have fun with one another, and realize similarities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.  The grant will also fund outreach efforts designed to make resource information accessible to youth with disabilities and their families from within their community.

AUGUST UPDATE
The “Friendship, Fun and Family” initiative is now underway!  The Arc of Philadelphia has begun recruiting youth with and without disabilities to participate in a drama workshop series at Deliverance Evangelistic Church that will culminate in a play titled “Death by Association,” to be performed on October 5 and 6, 2007.  As well, The Arc is working on an additional fitness activity designed to get youth of varying ability working together, supporting each other, having fun and building friendships.  We’ve been busy with outreach, too, providing information to people with disabilities, their families and others at resource fairs around the city and at conferences, and summits.  Soon we will be recruiting volunteers to aid us in educating parents, teachers and staff about disability resources during school outreach activities in the community surrounding The Arc and Deliverance.  There are many ways that you can help. Email us to find out how.