UCP’s Humanitarian of the Year Dinner is in less than a week!

UCP's Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner and Auction is less than a week away and will include a night of incredible auction items, fabulous food and inspiring stories from people with developmental disabilities.

We also will honor John Frisch and Jeff Einhorn as our 20th Anniversary Humanitarians of the Year for their amazing service to the Sacramento community!

UCP's 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner

May 16, 5:30-9 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

Live and silent auction items include:

• 2013 Honda Fit
• Sea Ranch four-level home and weekend of whale watching, golf and hiking
• CBS premium season holder’s suite at the Sept. 9 San Francisco Giants game for 10 and KNBR’s suite for 16 on Aug. 15
• Spyglass – Pebble Beach – golf foursome and stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa
• New York City 3-night stay at the InterContinental Times Square with tickets to a Broadway show and Late Show with David Letterman.
• Behind-the-scenes tour of Good Day Sacramento and breakfast for 10
• River Run Bar Hop for 30 along the Sacramento River
• River Cats tickets, Beauty Bash, Jeroboams, Magnums, a Rombauer case and much, much, much more

Check out the Live and Silent Auction lists! 

Get your tickets to Sacramento’s premier humanitarian event!

UCP's Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner and Auction is just three weeks away and will include a night of incredible auction items, fabulous food and inspiring stories from people with developmental disabilities.

We also will honor John Frisch and Jeff Einhorn as our 20th Anniversary Humanitarians of the Year for their amazing service to the Sacramento community!

Get Your Tickets Today!

UCP's 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner

May 16, 6-9 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

Live and silent auction items include:

• 2013 Honda Fit

• Sea Ranch four-level home and weekend of whale watching, golf and hiking

• CBS premium season-holder’s suite at a San Francisco Giants game

• Trip to New York City with tickets to a Broadway show, Late Show with David Letterman and the U.S. Open!

• Behind-the-scenes tour of Good Day Sacramento and breakfast for 10

• River Run Bar Hop for 30 along the Sacramento River

• Much, much more!

Get Your Tickets Today!

How Water Skis Led Krissy to Her First Apartment!

Krissy had enough trouble walking – the idea of being strapped onto water skis and sliding backward into the water seemed impossible and frightening. Little did she know, camp would help her accomplish much more.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 9 months old, Krissy often felt frustrated and isolated as a kid. Classmates avoided her because they were too scared to ask why she was different. She found herself frustrated watching both her older and younger siblings surpass her physical abilities while she still struggled to form words.

Then she attended a camp for youth with disabilities that partnered with UCP. In her 12 summers at camp, Krissy not only conquered a fear and learned to water ski, she discovered her own capacity for independence.

“Camp taught me that I can live on my own,” Krissy said. “They taught me that I can do things for myself, like wake up early and get dressed.”

At age 24, Krissy decided to move into her own apartment with a roommate. Last year, she began living completely on her own.

“It’s still difficult for me, but I like having my own place with no one telling me what to do,” Krissy said.

Krissy attends American River College and at Christmas had the chance to throw her first party. Twenty family members and friends gathered in her apartment. 

Krissy now wants to be a pastor for people with disabilities. Through Facebook, she learned about a Christian club for teens and young adults with disabilities called WOW at Sunrise Community Church, and she is now one of the leaders.

“There were people with disabilities in old times and today,” Krissy said. “I like teaching teens and young adults that there are people like them and they’re not alone.” 

Meet Shawn!

Shawn was living with her sister in Fair Oaks two years ago when she took a podcast sermon to heart. A local pastor was preaching about the importance of change.

Shawn decided it was time for a change: At the age of 55, she decided to live on her own for the first time in her life. Fortunately, she was already connected with UCP’s CLASP independent living program that teaches people with developmental disabilities the life skills to live as independently as possible.

“I heard that sermon and thought, why not? It’s time to move on,” Shawn said. “It’s hard to change at first, but you have to go through change or else life is dull and boring.”

Her remarkable decision was exceptionally brave considering she had spent 30 years living in Hawaii with her parents after they moved from San Francisco when she was 15. When they passed away, she not only grieved their loss, she moved thousands of miles to live with her sister for 10 years.

But in February 2011, Shawn moved into her own accessible apartment in a senior housing facility in Sacramento. Her CLASP instructor, Patricia, helped her select a facility and coordinate interviews with caregivers. Patricia also helped Shawn learn how to budget, shop for groceries and develop one of her new favorite pastimes – cooking. Each Friday, Shawn and Patricia cook a new dish, often from Shawn’s childhood memories. 

“I guess I have a lot more confidence than I thought,” Shawn said. “And I don’t know what I would have done without God, Patricia, and my family and friends’ support.”

It's Developmental Disability Awareness Month!

Each March, people with disabilities come together with advocacy groups, community members and loved ones to celebrate and raise awareness about their challenges and successes. 

UCP National recommends some great ways to get involved!

•    Volunteer with UCP of Sacramento and Northern California.

•    Make a donation. Empower people to live life without limits.

•    Connect with us on Facebook. Share your story and ours with others.

•    Make our advocacy posters your profile picture or cover photo.

Join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #NDDAM.

Let us know how you made a difference during Developmental Disability Awareness Month – post on our Facebook page! 

Bid on a Honda Fit and help people with disabilities!

Get ready to celebrate with UCP at our 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner on May 16 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

Buy your tickets now to honor some of the most impactful philanthropists in the region and bid on our latest auction item: a 2013 Honda Fit!

Opening bid on the Fit is only $7,500 – retail price is $16,745. The Fit has a sporty suspension, flexible seating arrangements and high safety ratings.

The Humanitarian of the Year Award Dinner includes more coveted auction items:

·       Wine and food tastings and winery tours

·       Giants Suite at San Francisco Giants game

·       Sea Ranch luxury ocean-view home for up to six people, two nights

·       Mancave mirrors featuring brewery memorabilia

·       "Beauty Bash" at Benefit Cosmetics

·       Staycations: Monterey Park Plaza Hotel and Spa, Lafayette Park Hotel and Madrona Manor in Healdsburg

·       Broadway show tickets

·       Golf outings at Serrano Country Club, Northridge Country Club and Del Paso Country Club

Stay tuned for more to come!

Get your tickets today!

Help kids with autism make summer memories at A.C.E. Camp!

Do you remember splashing in pools and giggling around a campfire as a kid at summer camp? This is a key childhood memory that many children with autism will never experience. While their peers are having the time of their lives, children with autism are sitting at home – isolated.

That’s not the story at UCP: With your help, we can send 15 kids with autism to UCP’s Autism Center for Excellence Camp, where they can have a valuable childhood experience. Your business can sponsor children at $600 each, giving them the opportunity to learn how to socialize with other children with autism, as well as typically developing kids, while having fun.

With studies now showing that one in 88 children has autism, A.C.E. Camp is more important than ever. At Grizzly Creek Ranch, kids with autism will be rewarded with a fun, exciting week learning swimming, arts and crafts, kayaking, archery, volleyball, scooter hockey, fishing, soccer and dancing. With a 1:1 staff to camper ratio and a full-time camp nurse, kids also will enjoy a movie night, campfire time and a talent show – all while building their self-esteem and social skills.

A.C.E. Camp is an amazing opportunity for kids with autism, but it cannot continue without community help. A.C.E. Camp is an unfunded program, but your gift can make this happen. UCP is careful with funding—for every dollar we receive, 90 cents supports our clients. 

Make a donation to A.C.E. Camp today!