Dear Friends,
For Chris, it is all about dreams.
Chris began attending UCP-LI’s Adult Day Program in 2018, after high school. He had goals and dreams and was ready to work for the things he wanted to achieve.
Chris wanted to make friends; he enjoyed music and dance and wanted to expand and share his abilities. He wanted to advocate for people with special needs, especially since a good friend from school had been picked on.
But more than anything else, Chris wanted a job.
Not just ANY job – Chris wanted a job as an office delivery person. He was organized, friendly and efficient, all skills that supported his goal. Plus: Chris had a job delivering mail in high school and loved it.
“I knew it was the perfect job for me,” Chris shared.
When he first arrived at UCP-LI, Chris was nervous and felt like “the new kid”. But he quickly bonded with staff, who encouraged his dreams; he made friends with other program participants; and soon launched UCP-LI’s “Break Dancing Club”.
“We were all break-dancing!” Chris recalls. “It was so much fun!”
Musical performances, participation in UCP-LI’s Citizen’s First self-advocacy program, art, woodworking, and more followed.
Yet even as Chris immersed himself in UCP-LI’s day program activities, he never abandoned his quest for his “dream job”. Maintaining his focus, staff helped Chris with his resume and created opportunities to build his skills through “real life” experience.
This resulted in a newly created role within UCP-LI’s Adult Day Program where Chris collects daily program attendance sheets. His woodworking class made him a special delivery box/pouch that affixed to his wheelchair enabling him to collect and deliver files, paper, packages, etc. And Chris soon began working alongside UCP-LI’s administrative staff, sorting and delivering mail throughout UCP-LI’s headquarters. Today, Chris is a familiar face throughout the building, always friendly and always productive.
All the men and women with disabilities we support have dreams. At UCP-LI, we strive to make everyone’s dream a reality. Through innovative programming, a supportive environment, a compassionate team, and a willingness to adapt tools, processes and procedures, dreams come true every day.
Your donations play an integral role in helping to create meaningful opportunities for the children and adults with disabilities we support. As 2025 approaches, and goals and resolutions for the new year are made, please remember the hopes and dreams of the people we support – and help us to make many, many dreams come true.
Please return your gift in the envelop provided or donate online at www.ucp-li.org. Your gift MATTERS!
Please accept our thanks along with our warmest wishes for a happy and joy-filled 2025.
As we approach our 75th year, thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of people with disabilities!
Sincerely,
Colleen Crispino
President & CEO of UCP of Long Island