United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus County Sips & Treasures: Life Without Limits
By Brandilyn Brown
Do you live a life without limits? Do you often think about what that means? United Cerebral Palsy has had a center here for 30 years. UCP’s adult day centers in Modesto and Turlock work hard every day to create lives without limits for it’s members. Cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, mobility injuries, autism and many other disabilities of other diagnosis can pause lives, but UCP is making sure those pauses are short. Only 20% of their members are affected by cerebral palsy; they assist anyone affected by mobility issues, regardless of the biological cause. Every day they hope to enrich the lives of their members by giving them independence–the kind you and I take for granted every day. Many of us have daily opportunities to make memories, make money, make new friends, and experience something new. Can you imagine NOT having those experiences every day?
The staff at UCP strive to create stimulating environments to benefit members and encourage them to try something new. Aside from the day program center, and their job placement program, they have a program called Expanding Horizons, which is devoted to (you guessed it!) expanding one’s horizons! By integrating something new in to the lives of their members, bridging the gap between mundane and exciting, makes every day an adventure. Recent trips include bowling, visiting parks and beaches, volunteering efforts, going to San Francisco and taking the ferry to Alcatraz, and even camping!
One of their best fundraisers is coming up, their Sips and Treasures event on April 27th, 6pm at Vintage Gardens, 4342 Dale Rd, Modesto. You must be 21 to attend this event, as alcohol will be served, and tickets also include hors d’oeuvres, silent auction (with really awesome items!) and live entertainment provided by the MAMA winners, the Patty Castillo Davis Band. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door.
Independence, community integration, new experiences, sharing those experiences with others, a sense of self, a reliable income, an awareness of the community, and looking forward to daily life are what makes us human. If you want to help UCP in their effort to make beautiful lives for everyone, come out and enjoy this awesome event. For more info email visit www.sipsandtreasures.org or call 209-577-2122.
