Spring 2016 - The Mission Project

the
The Mission Project
enables capable adults with
developmental disabilities to live
independently and safely in community
with individualized support.
Compass
News from The Mission Project
Hooves pounding, hearts racing, crowd cheering
Spring 2016
9th
Annual
Guests to gather at glamorous gala
to celebrate the 2016 Kentucky Derby RUN FThOeRROSES
Don’t miss the excitement.
Celebrate “the greatest two minutes in
sports” with us at The Mission Project’s
9th Annual Run for the Roses
Kentucky Derby Gala. The event will be
held 2:30 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 7,
at our new venue, the luxurious
Lake Quivira Country Club.
We are thrilled to have as our
honorary chairs Deidre Pujols and
her daughter Isabella. A Roeland
Park, Kan., native, Deidre is a great
advocate for people with developmental disabilities. She and her husband,
Albert Pujols, first baseman for the
Los Angeles Angels, have five children.
Isabella, their oldest daughter, is a
vibrant young adult with Down
syndrome.
You’ll have a great time at our
Kentucky Derby Gala. You’ll enjoy
first-class food and libations while
“betting” on the race and participating
in the silent and live auctions. Strut
your stuff, and you just might win an
award for Best Hat or Best Dressed.
Kentucky Der
by Gala
Lake Quivira
Country Club
Saturday
May 7, 2016
2:30 pm - 6:00
pm
Continued on page 2
Going to bat for people with disabilities
Ask Deidre Pujols, who, with her husband,
Albert, has a national presence, why she
supports The Mission Project, her answer
is simple: “Isabella.”
The Pujols’ 18-year old daughter has Down
syndrome. “As she grows into adulthood,” says
Deidre, “I’m very aware of the gap in options and
services for young adults who are differently abled.
“As parents of children in this community,
we’re all looking for ways to help our children
make the most of their job and life opportunities,
be as independent as they can be and enjoy a
quality of life that is as healthy and fulfilling as
possible. The Mission Project addresses these
needs in a unique and special way. Supporting
The Pujols family champions people with disabilities. (Left to right) Albert Jr.,
The Mission Project is a personal passion, and
Sophia, Albert, Esther Grace, Ezra and The Mission Project’s 9th Annual
supporting it is a no-brainer for me.”
Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Gala honorary co-chairs, Deidre and Isabella.
Partici pa nt Spotlight
Alex Conner
When Alex Conner started her job at the Hy-Vee in Prairie Village,
her father, Scott Conner, had one piece of advice: Always try to
find a way to make people smile. No problem for Alex.
“A
Alex Conner’s supervisor, Nick Brown, at
the Prairie Village Hy-Vee (right), shown
here with Alex, calls her “a real go-getter.”
lex is so friendly, and she’s a real go-getter and hard worker,”
says Nick Brown, assistant manager, store operations. “She does
great with anything she’s asked to do and shows a lot of initiative.
She’s the first to step up and ask for more work or to learn something new.
We’re lucky to have her.”
Whether it’s bagging groceries or delivering flowers, Alex finds joy at
work and in her life as a Mission Project participant. Staying busy drives
her: She loves to dance, cheer her favorite sports teams and do crafts.
“Alex has always been independent and willing to try new things,”
says her dad. “The Mission Project gives her the perfect place to live on
her own and be as active as she’d like to be, thanks to transportation
services. It’s good to know she’s surrounded by other Mission Project
participants in a neighborhood with a lot to offer.”
Says Alex, “I like living on my own and making my own decisions.”
A fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Royals, she was excited to
attend game one of the 2015 World Series with her dad. She’s known
for rallying friends to hang out with her at The Bar on Johnson Drive.
“I enjoy being with friends and staying active,” says Alex.
Welcome aboard
2016 Kentucky Derby
In January, The
Mission Project
elected new officers
to a two-year term.
They are Ed Soltz,
president (pictured
here); John Pittman,
treasurer; and Kay
Webb, secretary.
Continued from page 1
Excuse our mixing sports metaphors,
but we’ll be batting 1,000 with some
of this year’s auction items. Thanks to
the Pujols family sponsorship of this
year’s gala, we’ll be offering some major
league auction items for baseball lovers.
Watch for details about seeing the Royals
play the Angels on Wednesday, July 27th,
from a suite at Kauffmann stadium.
“This festive fundraiser is a great
way to celebrate the Kentucky Derby –
without traveling to Churchill Downs –
while supporting a life-changing
organization,” says Marcia Soltz, 2016
event co-chair with Betty Randall.
“Mission Project participants live
fuller, healthier and more independent
lives thanks to our many friends who
contribute to our annual Kentucky
Derby Gala.”
Buy tickets
for derby
Gala
New this year:
You can register to
attend or sponsor the
event online.
How you can support us
www.themissionproject.org
Visit our website
for tickets and more information.
www.themissionproject.org
Tickets are $100 each.
Proceeds benefit Mission Project
transportation, which enables
participants to work, and
programs to keep them thriving.
We truly are thankful for any assistance
you can give – regardless of size.
and click
A
$ Make
Donation
Follow us on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/themissionproject
Goldie Pappan
Alicia Williams
Vo lu ntee r S pot lig ht
Goldie Pappan & Alicia Williams
Alicia Williams and Goldie Pappan, two student volunteers, bring their
much-needed talents to The Mission Project.
B
oth are enrolled in the doctor
of audiology program at the
University of Kansas and are
part of the university’s prestigious
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities
(LEND) program. They help with
a variety of programs, including
Problem Solvers, where they teach
participants life skills and help them
work through challenges.
“Working with The Mission Project
has been a deeply fulfilling experience
for me,” says Goldie, who plans to
Alicia Williams and Goldie Pappan
(standing), doctoral students at KU,
facilitate Problem Solvers discussions.
Sitting (left to right): Grant Davis,
Sara Niederhauser, Kelly Randall
and Bethany Hiskey, an occupational
therapy student at KU.
specialize in hearing loss in people
with developmental disabilities.
“My day gets better every time I
volunteer at The Mission Project,” says
Alicia, who will continue her education
at the University of California-Davis
audiology program this summer.
Parents help power The Mission Project
F
ounded by parents of adults
with developmental disabilities,
The Mission Project initially
was run by parents. For many years,
parents and other family members
developed and ran the programs,
provided transportation and created
the fundraisers that kept the
organization moving forward.
Now, despite having staff and a host
of volunteers, The Mission Project
continues to rely on parents and other
family members. Family members
staff the 24-hour help line that
participants can call when they need
someone to talk to. Family provides
transportation when The Mission
Project vans and drivers aren’t
available. They continue to plan
and run the fundraisers, such as the
annual Kentucky Derby Gala. And
they plan trips and help with programs,
among other responsibilities.
“The Mission Project takes a major
commitment from participants’
families,” says Robin Silverman,
mother of participant Lauren Stern.
“But it’s time and effort well spent.
The Mission Project has given my
daughter a quality of life she wouldn’t
otherwise have. And for that, I’m
extremely grateful.”
Robin Silverman (left) works with her
daughter, participant Lauren Stern, to serve
drinks to thirsty golfers at the 2015 annual
golf tournament.
5960 Dearborn, Suite 225
Mission, KS 66202
www.themissionproject.org
The Mission Project Inc. is a
501(c) 3 not for profit organization.
Try it; you’ll like it
Healthy Make & Take class makes nutritious eating fun
M
ost of us are leery of trying
unfamiliar foods like kale
or avocado. It’s easier to stick
with less-nutritious favorites like
pizza and soda.
The Mission Project’s “Healthy
Make & Take” introduces participants
to healthier alternatives. They’re having
a great time finding new favorites.
Using professional resources,
such as Louann Dent, the registered
dietitian at Hy-Vee, and experts at
Tim Crough Fitness, instructor Sarah
Mai’s approach is more experiential
than instructive. She gives participants
a chance to taste new foods and learn
about their benefits.
“I noticed a disconnect between
what was being taught about nutrition
and what participants were buying
at the grocery store and ordering in
restaurants,” says Sarah.
To get them to include healthier
foods on their shopping lists
and when eating out, Sarah says,
“We engage the senses – touch,
taste and smell.”
The class introduces foods in
different forms, such as avocado in
guacamole and by itself.
“The goal is to eat more that comes
from the ground and fewer processed
foods,” says Sarah. “We’re paying
attention to which foods help us feel
good and energetic. Less sugar,
especially soda, is a huge focus.”
As a result of the class, participants
are choosing more vegetables, substituting whole grains for white-flour
products and drinking flavored waters
instead of sodas.